The production is the result of collaboration between Austrian director Beverly Blankenship, Vietnamese artists, the Goethe-Institut Ha Noi, the Austrian Embassy, and the Ha Noi Academy of Theatre and Cinema. Alongside students enrolled in the academy’s full-time programmes, the cast also features young people with disabilities who share a passion for the stage.
Written in the late 16th century, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is one of the world’s most frequently staged plays. The enchanted forest outside Athens, filled with romantic misunderstandings, the magic of the fairy king Oberon, the mischief of Puck, and a group of clumsy craftsmen, have long been an endless source of inspiration for various art forms.
In its return to Ha Noi audiences, the play is presented through a theatrical language shaped by interaction between Vietnamese artists and an international creative team. The play’s signature wit continued to delight audiences, while offering a warm perspective on inclusion in the arts.
Although they do not take on lengthy roles throughout the play, the actors with disabilities perform impressively as fairy creatures of Athens in several scenes, leaving a strong impression on Ha Noi audiences.
Their presence is naturally woven into the magical atmosphere of the forest. Every movement, gesture, and smile of the “fairies” blends with the young cast to create a sense of sincerity and warmth for the audience.
The performance is the opening activity of “Shared Resonance” Week, initiated by the European Union National Institutes for Culture in Viet Nam (EUNIC Viet Nam) in coordination with the Goethe-Institut Ha Noi, the British Council, the Austrian Embassy, and O Kia Ha Noi art and cultural space.
Speaking at the premiere, Austrian Ambassador to Viet Nam Philipp Agathonos expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts of the international production team and the young participants. He stressed that the stage is a special space where everyone can find a common voice, learn from one another, and shine together.
