Tag Archives: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Nine Men’s Morris and the English weather

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

Last week I was contacted by a reader of this blog with a query about the Nine Men’s Morris in the Theatre Gardens in Stratford-upon-Avon. How old, he wondered, was it? I should explain. Nine Men’s Morris is an ancient … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday Shakespeare 2012

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

People all round the world will be celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday today, 23rd April. This year we in the UK welcome productions of Shakespeare’s plays in many languages from all parts of the world as part of the Cultural Olympiad. Even though these … Continue reading →

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The Phoenix and Turtle: Shakespeare’s Valentines

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Sylvia Morris

Today we are celebrating St Valentine’s day by giving flowers, chocolates and cards decorated with symbols of hearts and roses to those we love. Traditionally it’s the day when birds pair up for the mating season, and Chaucer, writing in … Continue reading →

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Elizabethan Christmas: carols

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Now we’re getting really near to Christmas, let’s have some music to get us in the mood. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Titania contrasts the long summer evenings with the cosiness of winter round the fire: The human mortals want … Continue reading →

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The RSC’s golden years: Terry Hands and Alan Howard

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

What better way to end the RSC’s season of events celebrating the Company’s 50th anniversary than with a discussion between two people who for many epitomised the RSC during the 1970s and early 1980s? On Saturday morning Greg Doran hosted … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and National Poetry Day

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Thursday 6 October is National Poetry Day in the UK. With so much economic gloom in the news, and to mark the day, here are a couple of pieces of Shakespeare’s most beautiful poetry.  The first one comes from near … Continue reading →

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream on stage

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

When diarist Samuel Pepys went to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1662 he was not impressed. “I had never seen before nor shall ever again, for it is the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare’s Avon, Act 7: Holy Trinity Church

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

Anyone visiting Stratford interested in places associated with Shakespeare will be aware that the parish church where he worshipped is a good 15 minutes walk from Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Why is Stratford’s church on the outskirts of the town, and on … Continue reading →

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream: lost in the forest

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Sylvia Morris

It’s the longest day of the year, a time when our ancestors believed the supernatural came particularly close to the human. So where does Shakespeare set his play where, on Midsummer night, the world as we know it gets turned … Continue reading →

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