By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Saturday 20 June, opens 29 June and runs through 18 July 2026 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Seeing this play on this night at this venue has long been an ambition.

• Read on for reasons including how the course of my true love with this play didn’t run smooth

There is nowhere better in London than this venue to hear the sound of actual birdsong overhead or marvel at the beauty of the sunset mid-evening performance to enhance the production.

Olivier Award winner Maimuna Memon (Standing At The Sky’s Edge, National Theatre) has composed subtle folk-infused melodies played live by an onstage band which enhance the celebration of nature vibe without ever distracting from it.

The set even appears to have been influenced by the rebirth of Jamie Lloyd’s triumphant EVITA at this very venue before its coronation last year on the Palladium balcony.

You’ll doubtless be familiar with the plot which revolves around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta, the conflict between 4 young Athenian lovers and the comedy of a group of amateur actors rehearsing a performance before the nuptials.

Oliver Huband (A Doll’s House, Almeida, pictured centre below) fancies himself as a rock star Theseus but the show’s real joy is in the mischievous sprite Puck who sprinkles a magic love in idleness potion into the eyes of members of the cast making them fall in love with the 1st person that they see.

Our heartstrings were especially tugged by Mary Malone’s Helena who can’t understand the sudden attention she’s receiving and mistakes it for mockery and Terique Jarrett (Choir Boy, Stratford East and Juniper Blood, Donmar) makes for a memorable Demetrious.

‘The course of true love never did run smooth’ is 1 of this play’s most quotable lines and unfortunately it’s true of this Atri Banerjee (Look Back In Anger, Almeida) production.

There’s so much going for this Midsummer with its faithful retelling of the story, strong ensemble, delicate soundtrack and unbeatable setting yet there’s nothing that really stands out.

Before curtain up we overhear 2 tourists complaining about the light shining in their eyes, completely missing the point that it would be the natural sunset that would ultimately make this experience.

Unfortunately, the course of my true love with this play didn’t run smooth because, perhaps like the love in idleness potion, while I enjoyed it during the moment this wasn’t a production I’ll be rushing back to see.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Tickets
• Have you seen an open air show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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