THE Royal Shakespeare Company are visiting Wales this week with a touring production of this comic favourite from the Bard – and it is one with an innovative and ground-breaking twist.

Amateur actors from each area that the production visits are playing the parts of the six ‘mechanicals’ – Bottom, Quince, Snout, Starveling, Flute and Snug – alongside the professional team of 18 from the RSC.

This week the amateurs are from Cardiff’s Everyman Theatre and do an incredible job of integrating with the professionals in this tale of midsummer magic, especially Steven Smith as Bottom.

Children from local schools in each area are also involved, with a dozen or so youngsters from Rumney Primary enchanting everyone as the fairy train.
This is a stunning production from director Erica Whyman – fast-paced, funny, aesthetically pleasing.

The professionals are as good as you would expect, providing much fun and frolics within the 1940s-style set.

I thought I preferred Shakespeare performed in more traditional style and costume until last night, when the quality of staging and acting from both amateurs and professionals, some fantastic live music and of course the timeless poetry changed my mind.

The play runs until Saturday.