New musical society dream up first production

The Dreaming – the first production from a new musical society in Mullingar, Peters Productions – features a 50-strong community cast and a live orchestra who include some of the country’s most prestigious musicians.

It is coming to Mullingar Arts Centre this week for what will be the Irish première of ‘The Dreaming’ presented by Peters Productions – “a musical midsummer night’s dream”.

Musical direction is by Greg Peters and Helen Hassett.

Based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Dreaming is a collaboration between Howard Goodall (music) and writer Charles Hart.

The work translates the original play into a rural idyll, where a small community moves between village and magical woodland in a score that is fuelled by English folk and choral traditions.

It is 1915, the eve of the summer solstice, and in a West Country village surrounded by woodland, the Lord of the Manor celebrates his coming of age as the villagers rehearse a midsummer play. Unseen eyes gaze on from tree and bracken – the woodlanders, vagabond children, spirits of the forest. Lost lovers roam there too, a quartet of bewildered wanderers, mismatched and confused. How can the mysterious boy with the beguiling gaze serve these four?

Lead parts are played by: Jack, Finn O’Reilly; Sylvia, Deborah Laver-Fay; Angel, Caolán Moriarty; David, Caolán Cleary; Alexander, Tadhg Kelly; Jennifer (Cast A), Aoileann Mulvihill; Jennifer (Cast B), Emma Rogerson; Charlotte (Cast A), Emily Shaw; Charlotte (Cast B), Alannah Looby; Henrietta, Emily Rose McHugh; Julian, Nathan Geszczak. Production team: director/musical director Greg Peters; musical director Helen Hassett; choreography Jorge Mattos; costume design/wardrobe, Angelika DeBarra.