Dame Judi Dench at Kingston's Rose Theatre

The Rose Theatre has pulled off a major coup by persuading one of Britain’s greatest actresses to come to Kingston and appear in an exclusive production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Dame Judi Dench will play Titania, returning to a role she first took on more than 50 years ago under Sir Peter Hall, who direct her again in the romantic comedy.

The production will run for six weeks from February to March next year, one of the longest runs at the theatre, which nearly closed at Christmas, with cast starting their rehearsals in January.

The theatre’s artistic director, Stephen Unwin, who took over when Sir Peter Hall stepped down on opening night, said: ““Judi has always been a supporter of this theatre and she decided the best thing she could do to support us is to appear on stage. It is exclusively at the Rose, so if you want to see Judi directed by Sir Peter you have got to come here.”

Sir Peter, now director emeritus, said the play was a work close to his heart, after directing it three times for the stage as well as at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. He said: “It is therefore, a real pleasure to be returning to the play for a fourth time in this very special season at the Rose. Above all I am delighted to welcome Judi Dench, one of Britain’s greatest actresses, to lead our company." 

Sir Peter’s production will be set in Elizabethan England, with Titania, the Fairy Queen, as a portrait of the aging Queen Elizabeth I, who is fascinated with the theatre, besieged by courtiers but “married” to the people of England.

Friends of the Rose, who pay between £30 and £1,000 a year to support the theatre, will be given first refusal on seats for A Midsummer Night’s Dream from Monday, August 24.

Members of the public will be able to get their hands on tickets from Monday, September 14.

Posted By Deryck Svensson

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