Circus Factory was delighted to be in a position to invite 6 professional circus performers to spend a week investigating the storyline of the 4 lovers in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. During a research and development week held at the Firkin Crane, through working in solos, duos, and ensemble R&D, six talented artists were brought together to transpose the narrative structures of Hermia, Helena, Demetrius and Lysander, and explore the different energies that come out of anger, jealousy, desire, and passion.

Meet the Artists of Midsummers Nights Dream – Research and Development Week:

Christopher McAuley – ‘Lysander’

Beverly Grant – ‘Hermia’

Lennin McClure – ‘Helena’

Jenny Tufts – ‘Demetrius’

Nathaniel Whittingham – ‘Puck’

Claire Carroll – ‘Oberon’

Throughout the week the chosen artists were guided by Circus Factory Artistic Director Cormac Mohally, Art Circus Company Loosysmokes, and Physical Theatre and Theatrical Clown Noelle Ní Ríagáin.

Photography by the brilliant Sara Pozzerle.

This opportunity was made possible with the support of Arts Council Ireland.

If Circus is something you’ve always wanted to try, here’s your chance. We are offering a series of Circus introduction classes to give you a taster of various circus disciplines.