Freddie Fox to star in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Southwark

Freddie Fox has been announced to lead the cast of Simon Evans' production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Southwark Playhouse.

Fox, who takes the roles of Bottom/Demetrius, was most recently seen as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at the Sheffield Crucible with his other acting credits including The Judas Kiss (West End) and Hay Fever (West End).

He will be joined by EastEnders actress Maddy Hill as Titania/Quince, Lucy Eaton (The Duchess of Malfi) as Helena/Starveling/Snout, Freddie Hutchins (Coram Boy) as Lysander/Flute, Melanie Fullbrook (Playing For Time) as Puck, Ludovic Hughes (King Lear ) as Oberon/Theseus and Suzie Preece (Measure for Measure) as Hermia/Snug.

Billed as 'farce meets Shakespeare', the new take on Shakespeare's comedy will open in Southwark in June with the 90 minute version performed by just seven actors instead of the usual 17.

Evans commented: "Our Dream is something very special: the wild, anarchic spirit providing expected comedy and unexpected tenderness to bubble up when you least expect it."

The production is presented by Go People and co-produced by Glass Half Full Productions.

A Midsummer Night's Dream will run at Southwark Playhouse from 6 June to 1 July.