In summer 2022, Perform presented Central London's first-ever children's theatre festival in Coram's Fields, Bloomsbury. Across six vibrant weeks from 22 July to 28 August 2022, four musicals lit up the festival stage, including two brand-new original productions. Among them was The Dream, Perform's bold reimagining of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, brought thrillingly up to date for young audiences aged 7-14.
Written and directed by Will Barnett, this star-studded modern reboot became one of the festival's standout hits.
Photos from the 2023 production of The Dream
The entertainment world is buzzing: football superstar Theseus is engaged to global pop sensation Hippolyta, and the internet can't get enough. But when tech-bro billionaire Oberon clashes with media mogul Titania over the streaming rights to the wedding, a group of young celebrities is swept up in their battle for digital dominance.
Meanwhile, wannabe influencer Bottom and his band of Dude Mechanicals are determined to use the chaos to chase superstardom of their own.
Filled with contemporary characters including YouTubers, popstars, fashion influencers and media titans, The Dream catapults Shakespeare's classic into the spotlight of the 21st-century celebrity world. Featuring infectious songs, high-energy dancing and laugh-out-loud dialogue, it offered families a slick, modern twist on a timeless story, and proved a festival favourite for older children.
Sing along with some of our favourite songs from The Dream. Toe-tapping tunes that capture the magic, mischief and adventure of the show!
