Sunday, October 15th, 2023 on BBC Four at 8:00pm
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies reveals how his lifelong dream of bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to television became a reality.
Russell talks through his casting choices, from Maxine Peake and Nonso Anozie as Titania and Oberon, to Matt Lucas and Elaine Paige as Bottom and Mistress Quince, and Bernard Cribbins – in what would be his final role – playing Snout.
He considers his decision to set the play inside a fascist dictatorship, ruled over by John Hannah’s evil Theseus, and discusses how his cast and crew managed to create such a well-received adaptation of one of the Bard’s best-loved works. And he reflects on the play’s final ten minutes, which contain moments he believes he will remain proud of forever.
