Katherine Kingsley, Susannah Fielding & More Join Michael Grandage’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Katherine Kingsley, Susannah Fielding, Stefano Braschi and Sam Swainsbury will find love in the forest in Michael Grandage’s forthcoming West End production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Shakespeare classic is the fourth production in the first West End season of the Michael Grandage Company. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will run September 7 through November 16 at the Noel Coward Theatre, with opening night on September 17.

Kingsley and Fielding will lead the cast as Helena and Hermia, respectively with Braschi and Swainsbury playing their male counterparts, Demetrius and Lysander, respectively. The quartet join previously announced stars Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde) as Titania and David Walliams (TV’s Little Britain) as Bottom.Rounding out the company are Gavin Fowler (Puck/Philostrate), Pádraic Delaney (Oberon/Theseus), Leo Wringer (Egeus), Stefan Adegbola (Robin Starveling/Cobweb), Richard Dempsey (Peter Quince/Moth), Henry Everett (Tom Snout/Peaseblossom), Alex Large (Francis Flute/Mustardseed) and Craig Vye (Snug the Joiner/First Fairy).

Kingsley is a two-time Olivier Award nominee for Piaf and Singin’ in the Rain. Her other notable stage credits include 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Company, Aspects of Love and High Society. Fielding’s stage credits include An Enemy of the People, The School for Scandal, All New People, The Merchant of Venice and The Rose Tatoo. Her screen credits include The Knot, 4.3.2.1, Doctor Who and Pete Versus Life. Braschi recently co-starred in Grandage’s Peter and Alice; his additional stage credits include Richard II, King Lear, The Guinea Pig Club and Danton’s Death. Swainsbury appeared in Grandage’s Privates on Parade; his addition stage credits include The Taming of the Shrew, When Did You Last See My Mother, The Comedy of Errors, The Merchant of Venice and Hay Fever.

Lysander (Swainsbury) loves Hermia (Fielding) and Hermia loves Lysander. Helena (Kingsley) loves Demetrius (Braschi); Demetrius used to love Helena but now loves Hermia. When Hermia's father insists she choose Demetrius as a suitor she escapes with Lysander into the surrounding forest where Oberon (Delaney) and Titania (Smith), the King and Queen of the Fairies, are having their own battle of love. As the human and magical worlds collide mischief and chaos erupt as love at first sight proves a reality for some and makes an ass of others.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will include set and costume design by Christopher Oram, lighting design by Paule Constable and musical composition and sound design by Ben and Max Ringham.