ORIENTAL NIGHT’S DREAM - 1990

S Y N O P S I S

The Caracalla Dance Theatre’s version of the Bard’s play was called ‘Oriental Night’s Dream’.

It took its audiences on a fantastical journey into a kingdom populated by aristocrats, peasants, and fairies. Like Shakespeare’s play, the ballet had several subplots that involve a royal marriage, conflict between lovers, and ham actors - all manipulated by forest fairies. It would, as Puck suggests, just be a dream; and so it was: the productions proved to be joyful, enchanting, profound, and wildly imaginative.

Shakespeare’s text was not used. The story was instead told in the language of Oriental dance, song, costume, and music.

Highlights of Caracalla Dance Theatre's "Oriental Midsummer Night's Dream" (1990).

EVENING STANDARD
Fantasy of war

Dream in dance echoes nightmare in the Lebanon.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Dancing through Beirut’s war

Ismene Brown on the remarkable Lebanese dancers visiting London.

THE TIMES
Defying darkness with dance

Throughout the civil war that destroyed Beirut, one dance company thrived. Now it is visiting London, writes Debra Craine.

Previous
Previous

Echoes

Next
Next

Elissa, Queen of Carthage