RSC Announces Cast of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

The Royal Shakespeare Company today announces the professional actors cast in the national tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream, leading the RSC's celebrations for the Shakespeare anniversary year in 2016. This national celebration of Shakespeare will visit each region and nation of the UK. In each area the 18-strong professional company will be joined by local amateur theatre companies who will play the Mechanicals and schoolchildren who will form part of Titania's fairy train. Playing opposite the 14 amateur Bottoms cast from across the country, Ayesha Dharker will take on the role of Titania, Queen of the Fairies.

This summer Ayesha played the role of Emilia in the RSC's critically acclaimed production of Othello, having previously played Scheherazade in Arabian Nights. Most recently she appeared in Tanika Gupta's Anita and Me at The Birmingham Rep and Theatre Royal Stratford East. Her other theatre credits include the Broadway and West End production of Bombay Dreams. Her film credits include Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, The Mistress of Spices, with numerous TV credits including Arabian Nights, Doctor Who, The Indian Doctor and Waterloo Road.

On taking on this role Ayesha said: "I am delighted to be playing Titania for The Dream! I have fallen in love with the RSC because every project I have done with them involves strong women and magical stories with ancient roots - from Scheherazade to Titania. I am looking forward to working with talented actors from all over the country and cannot wait to work with Erica Whyman."

Ayesha Dharker is joined by Jamie Cameron (Fairy); Lila Clements (Fairy); Lucy Ellinson (Puck); Aimee Gray (Fairy); Peter Hamilton Dyer (Egeus); Laura Harding (Hippolyta); Jack Holden (Lysander); Chris Nayak (Demetrius); Mercy Ojelade (Hermia); Chu Omambala (Oberon); Sam Redford (Theseus); Laura Riseborough (Helena); Isaac Ssebandeke (First Fairy); Alex Tomkins (Fairy) and Jon Trenchard (Philostrate). With further casting to be announced.

Erica Whyman, RSC Deputy Artistic Director, and director of A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation, said: "I am thrilled by the professional acting company and the creative team we have brought together. They are hugely talented and offer me a wonderfully wide range of expertise so I'm looking forward very much to getting into rehearsals and responding to this magical play. They also all have big hearts and will rise to the unique challenge of this project with skill and generosity."

A Midsummer Night's Dream is designed by Tom Piper who is most well-known for his collaboration with Paul Cummins and The Tower of London on the extraordinary commemorative poppy installation 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red'. The lighting is designed by Charles Balfour; the composer is Samuel Kenyon (who both worked with Erica Whyman on the 2014 production of The Christmas Truce). Movement is by Siân Williams and the Associate Directors are Kimberley Sykes and Sophie Ivatts.

The 84 amateur performers playing the Mechanicals have been taking part in workshops and tasks set by the RSC team in preparation for the start of rehearsals throughout the autumn.

Peter Cockerill, a pub landlord from County Durham and one of our Newcastle Bottoms, said: "From the very first day of auditions I have been really excited about being involved with Dream. Every time we have a session planned with The RSC I feel like a little boy waiting for Christmas and can't sleep with anticipation! I have found the process so far tremendously rewarding, I have learnt so much and we've got months to go yet!"

Sue Downing, a Funeral Director from Kidderminster playing Quince, said: "Being in Dream feels like falling in love and winning Strictly at the same time. The nature of life is you're doing everyday things and then you suddenly remember you're in it and it hits you, it's magical."

Peta Barker, a West Indies born driver playing Snug in London, said: "It has been such an amazing experience. The voice and movement workshops we have attended have been so helpful and the sessions with the RSC directors are really encouraging - they are so positive with their feedback, which is building up a real feeling of confidence in our abilities."

You can follow all of their journeys along with the rest of the company via www.dream2016.org.uk

A Midsummer Night's Dream opens in Stratford-upon-Avon at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in February 2016, before embarking on a nationwide tour and returning to Stratford-upon-Avon with the entire company in June 2016.

The BBC will be capturing all of the action in 'The Best Bottoms In the Land' (Title TBC), which will follow the Royal Shakespeare Company's journey as they put on the production with both amateur and professional actors, during their UK wide tour.

Overseen by BBC Birmingham, nine regional programmes will be produced by the BBC English Regions teams. The 30 minute documentaries will show the pressures and pitfalls of such a project, culminating in the opening night of each region's local performance.

'The Best Bottoms in the Land' will follow individual stories from around the country and will air in spring 2016 on BBC One.