The postcard perfect Herstmonceux Castle provided the backdrop for Chapterhouse Theatre’s outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Shakespeare’s comic tale of love, power and magic within the forest was told through a combination of slapstick humour and puppetry, with an interesting blend of traditional and fresh ideas.

The performers brought a high energy to the piece, clearly comfortable with one another and the task of playing multiple characters.

The dopey mechanicals provided the highlights, allowing the actors the opportunity to revel in the height of their clownish personas.

Some elements could be tweaked to create a stronger overall concept; finding a unifying performance style and interrogating the purpose and execution of the puppetry would go a long way to creating a more cohesive production.

The lover scenes need to be loosened up and discover the natural rhythm of delivery – such a break neck speed throughout allows little opportunity for the full comic potential of the text to be realised.

Overall, Chapterhouse Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was played charmingly, however more work on the conceptual framing of the production, textual analysis of the verse and room for improvisation would produce a piece that packs a little more punch.

Three stars