Shakespearean street theatre in Princesshay

If you were in Princesshay at the weekend, you could be forgiven for thinking that you had stepped in to another world, full of Shakespeare’s most magical creatures.

Pupils from the drama department at St Margaret’s School in Exeter donned their fairy outfits on Saturday and performed excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream to delighted shoppers.

The performances were to promote the school’s new interpretation of the play which will be aired at the Barnfield Theatre on November 23 and 24 at 7pm.

Fairy king and queen, Titania and Oberon, joined the four young Athenian lovers and all the fairy servants to act out the age-old play which has been given a modern twist, complete with modern music, by director, Harriet Agg-Manning.

Miss Agg-Manning, who is Head of Drama at the Magdalen Road school, said: “As part of the World Shakespeare Festival, which runs from April until November this year, I wanted to produce a classic Shakespearian comedy, adding a twist.

 “We have integrated modern music and modern touches to keep it engaging for a contemporary audience. It is heavily influenced by physical theatre, evident in Titania’s monologue, played by Hattie Collins.”

You can find out more about the production by emailing haggmanning@stmargarets-school.co.uk