What if true love was just a spell?
In To Dream Again, a modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the enchantment wears off – and real life begins.
This poignant, humorous, and heartbreakingly honest production delves into the realities of love lost, told through the eyes of a spirited nine-year-old girl. Boldly contemporary and profoundly moving,
To Dream Again invites audiences, young and old, to see Shakespeare’s legacy through a sharply relevant, 21st-century lens.
Written by acclaimed British playwright Toby Hulse and presented through arrangement with Plays for New Audiences, To Dream Again imagines what happens after the curtain closes on Demetrius and Helena’s enchanted love affair.
In a world where fairy tales unravel and relationships falter, young Sophie tries to reunite her estranged parents using the magic of storytelling – and a mischievous plumber who just might be Puck in disguise. Winner of the American Alliane for Theatre and Education (AATE) Distinguished Play Award (2018), the play speaks directly to the challenges of South African families, especially in light of a recent 10.9% increase in divorces, with over half involving children.
With an inventive set, ensemble storytelling, and richly layered performances, this production offers laughter and truth.
“Directing To Dream Again has been an exercise in gentle disruption,” says director DeBeer Cloete. “We lean into the whimsy and magic of Shakespeare while holding space for the emotional realities many children face today. In South Africa, where familial separation is increasingly common, this piece offers recognition and resonance – but also hope. It is a rare thing: a play that listens as much as it speaks.”
The production is on stage on 3, 4, 5, and 7 September at 11:00, and at 18:00 on 6 September in the Scaena Theatre on the main campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).
Tickets cost between R25 and R60, and are available on Webtickets.
You must be logged in to post a comment.