FOR the dream midsummer night head down to Hatfield House for an enchanting open-air production of Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream. This comic masterpiece comes to life as The Lord Chamberlain s Men theatre company provides a cast of hilarious cha

FOR the dream midsummer night head down to Hatfield House for an enchanting open-air production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

This comic masterpiece comes to life as The Lord Chamberlain's Men theatre company provides a cast of hilarious characters and a comedy packed with slapstick humour and absurd events.

Set in the woods - the home of fairies - love falls apart thanks to the intervention of a hapless fairy - Puck.

King of the fairies, Oberon, quarrels with his wife, Titania, and a love potion is concocted to remedy matters.

It is this potion that causes all sorts of problems as, to the confusion of all concerned and to the delight of the audience, the wrong men love the wrong women and vice versa.

After a sequence of hilarious events the audience is left wondering if all will ever be resolved.

The play is directed by the Royal Shakespeare Company's award-winning Lucy Pitman-Wallace.

She said: "The all-male cast offers audiences an unrivalled glimpse into how Shakespeare himself first envisioned his plays and, to my knowledge, there's nothing quite like it available to British audiences today.

"It's something very special indeed."

The performance starts at 4pm on August 27.

But why not arrive early, bring a picnic and relax in the spirit of the production as the actors mingle with the audience before the show.

Tickets are £12 for adults, £8 for children and family tickets are also available.

For more information and to book tickets, call 01707 287010.