felt it lost the whimsical/magical feel that the play is famous for. I really enjoyed the music choices, with some classic hits fromThe Spice Girls, Nirvana and The White Stripes. Three actors had stepped in last minute as the cast had been hit by the dreaded Covid. However, despite this, to my ear there were no missed cues or lines. The young people seemed to know the material very well. There were various outdoor distractions to contend with, such as traffic noise, dogs, birds, ice cream vans, children, and the heat of the sun, but the cast impressed me with its stamina and rarely faltered in the performances. It is also noteworthy that the spoken word travels much differently outside than in a theatre but the cast all worked hard on their diction and projection to counteract this change in setting. The time spent on this was evident and well worth it, as I rarely missed a word. The Mechanicals’ scenes were a highlight, and their scenes always made me, and the audience, laugh. They were a strong ensemble who worked hard to hold the audience in the palm of their hand. Although the cast overall was strong and well-cast, there were some standout performances. Firstly from ‘Nick Bottom’ whose portrayal really caught the humour of the script, and it was a joy to watch him enjoying the words. I also loved Titania’s confident performance and she sparkled in the role – she is definitely one to watch! I also must give a special mention to the young lady who, with virtually no notice, stepped in as Hermia. She did not miss a beat and you would never have known it wasn’t her part. Well done, a very professional performance. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the young people didn’t try to do ‘posh’ accents and embraced the northern accent. It brought heart and character to the piece. The ensembles were clearly enjoying the material and particularly the dance intersections, which brought a lively and fun energy to the performance. Janet, and her team, really know how to mould these fabulous young performers and bring out the best in them. They captured the playful comedy of the script but very skilfully brought a modern and energised version of it to a contemporary audience. I also want to mention that the fact that this performance was free/
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