“After a two year hiatus, Tottering Biped Theatre is delighted to officially announce the return of our acclaimed Summer Shakespeare Series. Midsummer Nights: A Dream was the first production ever in this series, and we are thrilled to bring an updated, expanded, and even more thrilling production of this piece back to live theatre audiences. Formerly at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Tottering Biped Theatre has moved its performances to the grounds of Hamilton's Dundurn Castle and Ancaster's Fieldcote Park. Our Summer Shakespeare Series would not have survived the on-going pandemic without the generous support of our esteemed supporters. Thanks and gratitude to all those who donated to our 2020 fundraiser - Save Summer Shakespeare. I am excited and scared to take the helm of this project and I hope to see you all at a performance. Or two! My heart beats in iambic pentameter in anticipation!” – Alma Sarai, Artistic Director for Tottering Biped Theatre’s Summer Shakespeare Series

Tottering Biped Theatre’s Summer Shakespeare Series is now taking place at two beautiful outdoor venues in the Greater Hamilton Ontario Area. The grounds of Dundurn Castle at 610 York Boulevard in Hamilton and Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum at 64 Sulphur Springs Road in Ancaster. Tottering Biped Theatre will present Midsummer Nights: A Dream - an updated version of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. All performances will begin at 7pm, weather permitting. Open to all ages. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can. Cash and debit or credit via tiptap or e-transfer will be taken at the door. Bring a blanket or lawn chair with you to sit on. Light refreshments will be available. Washrooms are on site. Running time is 90 minutes including a 20 minute intermission. Free parking available.

Midsummer Nights: A Dream infuses Shakespeare’s 1595 magical comedy with a liberation and social justice lens. Spurred by ambitions and hormones, aspiring actors, lovers and fairies meet in the woods of their sleeping minds in this highly physical adaptation of the classic play. Thesus, Duke of Athens, is to marry Amazon Queen, Hippolyta. Egeus petitions Thesus as his child Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius because they love Lysander. In defiance of Egeus, Hermia and Lysander flee into the woods. Demetrius follows pursued by Hermia’s sister Helena whose love he spurns. In the same woods a theatre troupe gather to rehearse a play that they hope to perform at Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding. Meanwhile, Oberon and Tatania, the quarreling King and Queen of the Fairies, have interactions with their human visitors that will entail some extraordinary transformations.

Tottering Biped Theatre’s 2022 Summer Shakespeare Series production of Midsummer Nights: A Dream will be directed by Trevor Copp with Raymond Louter as Assistant Director. The production will star Rebecca Durance Hine (Helena), Michael Hannigan (Egeus & Peter Quince), Jesse Horvath (Thesus & Titania), Desmond Lazar (Snout & Mustardseed), Matthew Lazaris-Brunner (Demetrius), Sean Parkinson (Flute & Cobweb), Zach Parsons (Bottom), Natasha Ramondino (Lysandra), Alma Sarai (Hermia), Severine Salvador (Starveling & Peaseblossom), Kendelle Smith-Parks (Oberon & Hippolyta), Claud Spadafora (Puck) and Morgan Hilliker (Understudy). Alyssa Campbell will be stage managing, with Ava Robitaille as Assistant Stage Manager, Kit Simmons as Technical Director and Kristina Ojaperv as Costume Designer.

Midsummer Nights: A Dream - Performance Dates, Times & Locations:

Dundurn Castle Grounds (610 York Blvd, Hamilton, ON, L8R 3E7)

Once home to Sir Allan Napier MacNab, railway magnate, lawyer and Premier of the United Canadas (1854-1856) and his family. The grounds have a history of live theatre performance. Tottering Biped Theatre brings back a lost tradition of performance with their presentation of Midsummer Nights: A Dream. MacNab, an apparent Shakespeare fan, had a collection of the Bard’s complete works in his Dundurn Castle library.

• Tuesday, August 16, 2022 to Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 7pm

• Tuesday, August 30, 2022 to Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 7pm

Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum Bandshell (64 Sulphur Springs Rd, Ancaster, ON, L9G 1L8)

A cultural heritage centre with an emphasis on the collection, preservation and exhibition of local history, the promotion of fine arts and the celebration of natural heritage through beautiful landscaped gardens and walking trails.

• Tuesday, August 23, 2022 to Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 7pm

Tottering Biped Theatre was founded in 2009 as a social justice inspired theatre company. They devise contemporary pieces through a workshop process spanning several years to create highly physical works of artistic excellence during the Fall/Winter. They also tour 'Liquid Lead' gender neutral partner dance talks and workshops. During the summer, they create contemporary, highly physical interpretations of Shakespeare. Their works have addressed poverty, Israeli-Palestinian relations, same sex marriage, violence against women, and mental health.

Midsummer Nights: A Dream was made possible due to the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Canada Summer Jobs, Incite Hamilton, Hamilton Community Foundation, Hamilton Arts Council, City of Hamilton, Pieczonka Family Foundation, Louter-Klassen Theatre Company and Schreiber Family Foundation.

Website: www.totteringbiped.ca.