BBC One has adapted William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for the small screen, with a stellar and diverse cast of actors that includes Nonso Anozie (photo above) as Oberon, as well as other names you might recognize (even if only because they’ve received coverage here on S&A in the past) like Javone Prince as Snug, and Fisayo Akinade as Flute.

Maxine Peake stars as Titania, Matt Lucas as Bottom, John Hannah as Theseus, Eleanor Matsuura as Hippolyta and Hiran Abeysekera as Puck, in an adaptation of the play adapted by Russell T. Davies, directed by David Kerr, produced by Nikki Wilson and executive produced by Davies, Faith Penhale and Brian Minchin.

Fisayo Akinade plays Flute, Javone Prince plays Snug, Richard Wilson plays Starveling, Elaine Paige plays Mistress Quince, Bernard Cribbins plays Snout

From the BBC press release: “It’s a long, dark night in the forest of Athens, and the trouble is only just beginning… In the tyrannical court of Athens, the pitiless dictator Theseus plans his wedding to Hippolyta, a prisoner of war, and young Hermia is sentenced to death by her own father. Meanwhile, in the town below, amateur theatre group the Mechanicals rehearse, with all their comic rivalries. And beyond Athens, in the wild woods, dark forces are stirring… Russell T Davies brings the classic Shakespeare play to life with an award-winning cast of stars and exciting newcomers. Packed with fun and invention and spectacle, this is ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for everyone.”

The cast is completed by award-winning stage star Elaine Paige as Mistress Quince, Richard Wilson as Starveling, Bernard Cribbins as Snout, and new talent in Prisca Bakare as Hermia, Paapa Essiedu as Demetrius, Kate Kennedy as Helena and Matthew Tennyson as Lysander.

Russell T Davies says: “This is such an exciting range of actors from stage and screen, from wild comedy to high drama, and some making their first ever appearance on camera. The ‘Dream’ is coming to life like never before.”

A premiere date hasn’t been set yet; but it’s expected to debut sometime this year.

While you wait, a first trailer has been released by BBC One and is embedded below:

Fisayo Akinade

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