Cast Set for A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at East London Shakespeare Festival
Kareem Alexander Yousri and Kalifa Taylor lead the outdoor tour, directed by Rosie Frecker.
Shakespeare Festival has announced the cast for A Midsummer Night's Dream, summer 2026 tour East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF) has announced the cast for its 2026 production, A Midsummer Night's Dream, which will tour to parks and open spaces to entertain family audiences across east London and Kent, from Friday 5 June – Sunday 23 August.
Bursting with mischief, chaos, romance and magic, this joyful, family-friendly outdoor production reimagines Shakespeare's hilarious comedy with a chaotic splash of contemporary flair.
Escape into the enchanted forest alongside Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius as they get more than they bargained for when a cast of magical woodland fairies take matters into their own hands.
Kareem Alexander Yousri (Doctor Who) plays Lysander, opposite Off West End Award-nominee Kalifa Taylor as Hermia. They are joined by Bad Education's Jack Bence, Ursula Early (EastEnders), Miranda Braun (Sense and Sensibility National Tour), Benedict C Jones (Return to the Forbidden Planet), Annabelle Blake (The Changeling Theatre Company) and apprentice Zora Duric Speare. The show is directed and co-produced by Rosie Frecker, with associate director and producer Ursula Early. It is designed by Jamie Wheeler. The movement director is Genevieve Dunne, musical director is Sonum Batra, production manager and set builder is Andrew Hollingworth.
With ELSF's signature high-energy numbers, slapstick comedy, and audience participation, this is Shakespeare for everyone.
Venue list and dates:
- 05–06 Jun: Higham Hill Hub, Walthamstow
- 07 Jun: Highams Park
- 11–12 Jun: Hoxton Community Gardens
- 13 Jun: Wanstead Park
- 14 Jun: Leyton Jubilee Park
- 18–21 Jun: Lloyd Park, Walthamstow
- 25–26 Jun: Central Park, East Ham
- 27 Jun: Priory Park, Haringey
- 28 Jun: Downhills Park
- 03 Jul: Springfield Park
- 04–05 Jul: Royal Observatory Greenwich
- 09 Jul: Gunnersbury Park, Ealing
- 10 Jul: Valentines Park, Ilford
- 11 Jul: Crystal Palace Park
- 12 Jul: Brockwell Park
- 15–16 Jul: Lauderdale House, Highgate
- 17–19 Jul: Clissold Park, Stoke Newington
- 31 Jul: Broadstairs Bandstand
- 01 Aug: Ellington Park, Thanet, Kent
- 02 Aug: Quex House & Gardens, Birchington-on-sea, Kent
- 21 Aug: Langthorne Amphitheatre, Leytonstone
- 22 Aug: Oval Bandstand and Lawns, Margate, Kent
- 23 Aug: Big Penny Social, Walthamstow
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