A VIRTUAL production of one of Shakespeare’s classic plays is being live streamed tonight (Monday, May 25) with donations going to a mental health charity in Reading.

60 Hour Shakespeare will present A Midsummer Night’s Stream, a new production of Shakespeare's classic, rehearsed in only 60 hours, and streamed live from around the world.

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The free performance will take place on Zoom at 7:30pm tonight and any donations received will be donated to No5 Young People, a mental health charity which focuses on providing counselling, outreach and preventative mental health services to young people aged 11-25 years old.

Audiences are invited to enter a world of dreams, magic, and romance, as the cast of 18 bring this much-loved comedy to life, online.

A feuding fairy King and Queen cross paths with four runaway lovers and a troupe of actors trying to rehearse a play with hilarious, but dark consequences.

Talking about the performance, Gavin Leigh, director said: “60 Hour Shakespeare is proud to support No5 with our production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“I have seen the difference that counselling can make to someone’s life and the charity’s no-questions-asked approach to accessing their services helps them to reach young people in need.

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“With the support of a world-wide cast, and a potentially global audience, we can raise enough money to make a big difference to a small charity.”

He continued: “This year’s production has moved from our annual, open-air, venue at Caversham Court Gardens, in Reading, to an online rehearsal and performance.

“The inspiration for 60 Hour Shakespeare was the rehearsal time that might have been available to actors in Shakespeare’s time.

“It can make the actors feel unbalanced and the performance feel real. This online performance is unlike theatre or film and that is unbalancing.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one way to introduce children to Shakespeare, and there will be an interval during the show, which is likely to have a running time of about 90 minutes.

“Shakespeare wrote some scenes of a sexual or violent nature, so parental guidance is advised.”

Talking about 60 Hour Shakespeare’s support, Carly Newman, Operations and Relationships Manager, added: “No5 love performing arts as a way to express emotion and take you to another place.

“I think we could all do with being transported to a Midsummer Night’s Stream from our very own armchair this bank holiday.

“Thank you to Gavin Leigh and all the cast for supporting No5 this year and moving the show to a virtual platform so we can still enjoy it.”

To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aMidsummerNightsStream

To book your virtual seat for this performance please go to Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-midsummers-night-stream-tickets-102971723196.