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UK Premiere in Hammersmith This Week Celebrates the Creativity of Autistic Individuals

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August 7, 2024
3 min read

UK Premiere in Hammersmith This Week Celebrates the Creativity of Autistic Individuals

Riverside Studios in Hammersmith to Host UK Premiere of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Adaptation

Riverside Studios in Hammersmith will welcome the UK premiere of a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ this week, presented by the renowned Flute Theatre. The performances, scheduled for Thursday, 8th August, and Friday, 9th August, at 19:30, promise a fresh take on the classic play, adapted by Kelly Hunter.

This premiere is part of Flute Theatre’s Summer Festival 2024, which showcases the company’s groundbreaking work with autistic communities from around the globe, including Peru, Spain, the US, Romania, and Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria. The festival, running from 30th July to 11th August, is the first international event of its kind, aiming to engage and include audiences typically marginalised by autism.

Flute Theatre is known for its innovative approach to Shakespeare, especially through the award-winning Hunter Heartbeat Method. This method, created by Kelly Hunter, uses sensory games inspired by Shakespeare to connect with autistic individuals and refugee families. The company’s performances are tailored to the needs of their audiences, often incorporating multiple languages within a single show.

Speaking to Richmond Nub News in February, Hunter discussed why the company’s innovative approach is so important:

“I believe that you should be able to adapt theatre for anybody and that kind of thing doesn’t get done enough.

“There is no reason people shouldn’t be able to participate.”

Following the success of their production of ‘Pericles’ at Riverside Studios in 2022, which received critical acclaim for its storytelling and dynamic performances, Flute Theatre continues to push boundaries with ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The production features a versatile cast of seven performers who transform seamlessly throughout the play, offering a unique sensory experience.

Actors and participants take part in a theatre game workshop as part of one of Flute Theatre's Productions — Actors and participants take part in a theatre game workshop as part of one of Flute Theatre’s Productions

Kelly Hunter, the director, actor, and writer behind the adaptation, founded Flute Theatre in 2014 to explore new ways of presenting Shakespeare. She holds an MBE for her contributions to theatre and an honorary degree from the University of Birmingham.

For more information on the Summer Festival and to book tickets for ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, visit the Riverside Studios website. The show has a duration of 100 minutes and is performed without an interval.

Tickets, starting at £15 (full) or £12.50 per person (concession), can be purchased here.