"ShakespeaRe-Told" A Midsummer Night's Dream (2005)

Director:

Ed Fraiman

Writers:

Peter Bowker (writer)
William Shakespeare (play)

TV Series:

"ShakespeaRe-Told" (2005)

Original Air Date:

28 November 2005 (Season 1, Episode 4)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Mis-directed love potions complicate an already complicated set of relationships.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Love Potion | Fairy | Engagement Party | Wedding

Cast

Bill Paterson	...	Theo
Imelda Staunton	...	Polly
Lennie James	...	Oberon
Sharon Small	...	Titania
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Puck
William Ash	...	James
Zoe Tapper	...	Hermia
Rupert Evans	...	Zander
Michelle Bonnard	...	Helena
Johnny Vegas	...	Bottom
Simon Day	...	Quince
Mina Anwar	...	Flute
Ben Crompton	...	Snug
Emmanuel Ighodaro	...	Snout
Andy Williams	...	Geoff
Amy Darcy	...	Cobweb
Nick Malinowski	...	Moth
Qaseem Ansari	...	Mustardseed
Meg Faragher	...	Peaseblossom
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bernadette Jane Vanderkar	...	Swimmer
Patrick Adolphe	...	Swimming Instructor (uncredited)
Daniel Larner	...	Swimmer (uncredited)
Siobhan Ellen Williams	...	Swimmer (uncredited)

Directed by
Ed Fraiman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Peter Bowker		writer
William Shakespeare		play

Produced by
Laura Mackie	....	executive producer
Kathryn Mitchell	....	executive producer: BBC America
Lee Morris	....	line producer
Patrick Spence	....	executive producer
Pier Wilkie	....	producer

Original Music by
Charlie Mole

Cinematography by
Tony Miller		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mark Thornton

Casting by
Jill Trevellick

Production Design by
Malcolm Thornton

Art Direction by
Leigh Walker

Costume Design by
Stewart Meachem

Makeup Department
Alison Elliott	....	hair designer (as Alison Davies)
Alison Elliott	....	makeup designer (as Alison Davies)
Donald McInnes	....	makeup dailies
Donald McInnes	....	special makeup effects artist
Leela Menon	....	assistant makeup artist
Sara Riesel	....	makeup artist
Kerry Scourfield	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Sally Blake	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Helen Fraser	....	third assistant director
Richard Harris	....	first assistant director
Alex Kaye-Besley	....	third assistant director
Claire Norbury	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Kyvan Ali-Mardani	....	dressing props
Mark Billingham	....	stand-by props
Mario Bueno	....	property master
Gina Cromwell	....	production buyer
Russell Daly	....	dressing props
Sophie Hervieu	....	art department trainee
Gary Moore	....	stand-by carpenter
Adrian Platt	....	stand-by props
Kem White	....	stand-by art director

Sound Department
John Falcini	....	dubbing mixer
John Hughes	....	sound recordist
James Loosemore	....	dialogue editor
Jo Manly	....	boom operator
Jonathan Rimas	....	adr mixer

Visual Effects by
Shane Warden	....	digital visual effects

Stunts
Tom Lucy	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Blake	....	gaffer
Paul Brown	....	electrician
Camilla Drennan	....	camera assistant
Tony Goulding	....	electrician
Alex Howe	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera and Steadicam
Steve Howe	....	stand-by rigger
Stephen Janes	....	second assistant camera
Barry McCullagh	....	electrician
Tom McGinley	....	best boy
Chris Plevin	....	camera operator
Robin Stone	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arabella Rhodes	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Chris Beeton	....	colorist
Patrick Doherty	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Steve Parr	....	music mixer
Steve Parr	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Pete Newman	....	unit driver

Other crew
Lorraine Brown	....	production secretary
Antonia Gordon	....	script editor
Crispin Hardy	....	assistant location manager
Andrew Hill	....	assistant production accountant
Emily Hobbs	....	floor runner
Joel Holmes	....	location manager
Vicki Howe	....	script supervisor
Deborah Hubbard	....	production coordinator
Neil Jones	....	production accountant
Fiona Murphy	....	post-production project manager
Michelle Osborn	....	publicist
Jane Record	....	picture publicist
Thalia Reynolds	....	artists contracts
Gordon Ronald	....	production executive
Elizabeth Wisdom	....	production runner

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Horsebridge Productions Limited (in association with)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2005) (UK) (TV)
• Cinema, The (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• High Point Film and Television (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording studio

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 | Australia:PG

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Bottom's first name is Nicholas - knicker-less.

Quotes:

Titania: What's your name?
Bottom: Bottom. But you can call me Booty.

Movie Connections:

References "The Office" (2001)

A dream performance

Having been brought up about 10 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon, (the Bard's birthplace), I regularly frequented the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre there. Consequently I've always loved his works and viewed this performance with trepidation.

Not being a great fan of "upgrading" Shakespeare, even the thought of his words spoken in a 21st century setting makes me wince with pain. However this production dispelled my doubts. The modern lingo was beautifully scripted and gustily played. I must confess that "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is not one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, but I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful effort. It was chirpy, bright, extremely witty, and lost none of the flavour of the original. I think even old Will himself would have been proud of it. Well done everyone!