When a rural amateur dramatics company mysteriously disappeared on Midsummer’s Eve, the only clues were a donkey and the strange tingle of magic in the air.
In this special video report, the relatives of Midlands’ tradesmen Quince, Flute, Snout, Starveling, Snug and Bottom give the untold story of what happened in the 24 hours before they were found.
Actor, writer and director Jonathan Broadbent, who is playing Dromio of Syracuse in our upcoming production of The Comedy of Errors drew inspiration from the characters we don’t see in A Midsummer Nights’ Dream - the friends, partners and relatives of the Mechanicals.
Jonathan called on colleagues in the acting company and together they worked out who these characters might be based on what we know about Bottom, Quince, Flute, Starveling, Snug and Snout.
Some of the actors were in lockdown together so were able to film as a pair. Their partners acted as camera operators and helped to help achieve the mockumentary style.
As editor, company member Ben Caplan assembled the material (which arrived mostly on Whatsapp as Cast shot on their devices) as Jonathan found useful shots from around his home that would help set the scene and link the interviews. This included putting a call out on Facebook to see if any neighbours knew of a field with a donkey.
