Shakespeare production full of magic (+ video)

Rotorua student actors will take their audience into the magical Athenian forest of a William Shakespeare classic.

The John Paul College senior drama department will perform A Midsummer Night's Dream tomorrow and Saturday at the Casa Blanca Theatre.

The famous tale is to be brought to life in an edgy fairyland complete with singing, dancing and magic.

The production is directed by teachers Gabrielle Thurston and Candice Visser.

Mrs Thurston said with the school competing in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competition each year, it did have a love of Shakespeare.

John Paul College students ready for their production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream. (clockwise from top) Ellis Carrington ,18, Samuel Purdie, 17, Aneesha Dahya, 18, Olivia Philip, 18, and Cory Ainsworth, 17. Photo/Ben Fraser

However, this was the first time the school had ever put on a full Shakespeare production, she said.

Mrs Thurston said as a school and drama department they had decided to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and celebrate "Shakespeare in its entirety".

The cast of about 24, in Years 11 to 13, have been preparing for the production for about a term.

She said she thought A Midsummer Night's Dream was a great production because it was well known, "very, very funny" and had "so many wonderful moments".

"It's magical madness. I think they will be truly entertained."

Mrs Thurston said they had modernised it with the setting, costumes and actual concept, but were still being true to the text and Shakespeare's intention.

"Just come into it with an open mind and get carried away with the story."

She said she would love for the community to get along and support the students.

"They've worked so hard, they deserve a big audience."

Drama captain Aneesha Dahya, 18, who is playing Hermia, said one of the hardest parts had been needing to do a lot of rehearsals as it was such a large cast, but she loved the magical concept and that a lot of people could relate to the story.

Drama student Ellis Carrington, 18, who is playing Titania, said it had been a challenge adapting to the Shakespearean style, but it had been a good experience.