Overview
Ahh, Valentines Day. The unashamedly commercial holiday that demands an indulgent wave of ostentatiously overpriced roses, Hallmark sentiments and annoying couple selfies accompanied by the hashtag #bae. If you’re a worthwhile human being who wants to avoid clichés this V Day, I applaud you and will presently cease my gagging noises to tell you about the annual Auckland Summer Shakespeare Season.
Kicking off with A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Friday 13 February, romance your significant other with a classic tale of warring fairies and the follies of young love as directed by renowned local Shakespeare connoisseur Michael Hurst. Hosted by Old Arts Plaza and touted as one of the greatest stage comedies of all time, Hurst promises his Midsummer Night’s Dream is set to be a theatre adventure of the first degree, from the sweet romance of Theseus and Hippolyta to the torture of unrequited love with a few conniving fairies thrown in for good measure – because every half-decent story has mythical flying creatures with names like Mustardseed and Peaseblossom. These fairies are particularly special for being portrayed by the award-winning Marvellous troupe - a spectacular group of senior citizens with some to zero acting experience and oodles of gold card-esque talent.
Coupled with original choregraphy and music composed by Callum Blackmore, it’s time to step away from the heart-shaped chocolates and Boys2Men mixtape this Valentines Day and lose yourself in the woods with what is guaranteed to be a strange and awesome evening of theatre.