News.
INTERVIEW: Director Holly Race Roughan discusses staging one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays
20th January 2026
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which comes to the Quarry Theatre at Leeds Playhouse from 14 – 28 February, is the striking new production from Headlong’s Artistic Director Holly Race Roughan. The production shows that all plays, no matter their age or place in the public conscience, can be looked at through fresh eyes.
INTERVIEW EXCERPT
“I think there is something about staging A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the dead of winter,” says Holly, “that poses a very simple question to it’s creative team: ‘what does it mean to shine a light on the darkness in the play?’
“It is such a rich text that can be read in so many different ways that an opportunity to explore the murkier aspects of that play felt really exciting.”
The cast features Hedydd Dylan as Hippolyta / Titania (The Comedy of Errors, RSC; The Merry Wives of Windsor, Globe); Dannie Harris (A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Antic Disposition; Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)) as Ensemble/Cover; Jack Humphrey in his professional debut as Quince/Egeus; Lou Jackson in his professional debut as Demetrius/Cobweb; Pria Kalsi (The Last Quiz Night on Earth, Oxford Girls) as Flute/Child; Danny Kirrane (Skins, Jerusalem) as Bottom; Tiwa Lade (My Father’s Fable, Great Expectations) as Hermia/Mustardseed; Ben Lynn as Ensemble/Cover; Michael Marcus (The Invention of Love, Who Killed My Father) as Theseus/Oberon; David Olaniregun (Romeo and Juliet, Globe; Andor) as Lysander/Moth; Tara Tijani (The Merry Wives of Windsor, School for Scandal, RSC) as Helena/Peaseblossom; and Sergo Vares (The New Real, RSC/Headlong; People, Places & Things) as Puck.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is designed by Max Johns, with Hugo Aguirre as Design Associate/Access Support Worker, Candlelight and Lighting Design by Joshie Harriette, Composition and Sound Design by Nicola T Chang, Costume Supervision by Jackie Orton, Dramaturgy by Frank Peschier, Fight and Intimacy Direction from Haruka Kuroda, Movement Direction by Malik Nashad Sharpe, Sonny Nwachukwu as Origins Assistant Director, and Voice by Gary Horner.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream was cast by Becky Paris CDG, Head of Casting at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Listings information
A production by Leeds Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe and Headlong, with Bristol Old Vic
William Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Quarry Theatre, Leeds Playhouse
Age guide 12+
14 – 28 February 2026
Press Night: Wednesday 18 February, 7.15pm
Box office 0113 213 7700
Book online leedsplayhouse.org.uk
Access Performances
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted: Wednesday 18 February, 7.15pm; Wednesday 25 February, 5pm; Thursday 26 February, 12.30pm
Audio described and Touch Tour: Friday 27 February, 7.15pm; Saturday 28 February, 2pm
Captioned: Wednesday 25 February, 5pm; Thursday 26 February, 12.30pm
Access productions at Leeds Playhouse are sponsored by Principal and Access Partner Irwin Mitchell