A London College of Music graduate will play one of the leading roles in the Australian Shakespeare Company’s (ASC) highly-acclaimed production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which starts its six-week run at Kew Gardens on Saturday, July 20.

Grace Holroyd will play Hermia, one of the four lovers, in what will be her eighth production with the ASC, which returns to the idyllic outdoor setting in south-west London.

Previously playing the titular roles in Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies and Alice in Wonderland, both of which were performed in London and Australia, Grace has recently graduated with a second degree in physiotherapy from St George’s, University of London.

Alex Cooper will play her love interest Lysander in the much-loved Shakesperean comedy, which will be performed every evening (except Mondays) until Sunday, September 1.

Alex has also fulfilled a variety of roles for the ASC for the past five years, including numerous characters in The Wind in the Willows, Bahgeera in Jungle Book and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. He
has also appeared on several Australian television programmes including popular miniseries Ja’mie Private School Girl.

The other lovers in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Demetrius and Helena – will be played by Durassie Kiangangu and Larissa Teale, the latter of whom trained at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in London.

Her work for the Australian Shakespeare Company includes Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet in Melbourne, and a previous production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Kew.
Durassie is a more familiar face on-screen, having appeared in films including Imperial Blue (2019), False Men (2016) and Northern Soul (2014).

Oberon, King of the Fairies, is portrayed by Hugh Sexton, who will also play Theseus in the same production. Hugh has been on the Australian arts scene for more than 20 years and has performed with numerous theatre companies around the world.

Most recently he has played the title role in Macbeth with the ASC. Pre-pandemic, he enjoyed a whirlwind three years with Pop-up Globe, performing more than 400 shows across Australia and New Zealand. He has also appeared in numerous roles on television, including Mitch Foster in popular soap Neighbours.

Other roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream include Peaseblossom, played by Fletcher O’Leary; Flip Fairy played by Cameron Shook; Jono Freeman as Philostrate and Puck; Madeline Somers as Peter Quince and Mustardseed; Oliver Byng as Bottom, and Solenn Mara-Lewis as Hippolyta and Titania.

The production’s musical director is Paul Norton, with Peter Amesbury in charge of lighting and choreography by Sue-Ellen Shook. whose four-decade dancing career included a role in Baz Luhrmann’s hit film Moulin Rouge!

The Australian Shakespeare Company brings together a British and Australian cast and crew not only for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but also classic riverside tale The Wind in the Willows and magical children’s show Dream Fairies – Adventure Through Bubble Land.

Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved book is brought to life in the beautiful botanic gardens from Wednesdays to Sundays, starting on Saturday, July 20 and running until Sunday, September 1. It is performed twice a day, Thursdays to Saturdays.

Actor, musician and writer Cristina Wells will play the part of Mole, together with Heather Gorniak, who recently finished an international tour of The Snail on the Whale with Tall Stories Theatre Company.

Daniel Page is Badger, a role he has previously played with the ASC at Kew. He also works regularly at Lapland UK and Warwick Castle. Jacob Leeson is Head Chief Rabbit, Rupert Sadler plays Otter and Scott Gutteridge, who graduated from RADA in July 2020, will play the role of Weasel. Tom Whalley, who has performed in numerous pantomimes over the past ten years, is the odious Toad. Miah Hasselbaink and Holly Guiney share the role of Portly.

Dream Fairies – Adventure to Bubble Land, will be performed at Kew Gardens this summer – from Tuesdays to Sundays, with two shows on Fridays and Saturdays.

Triple threat performer Kirsty Craig plays Moth, whilst Lloyd Rhys Williams plays Mustardseed. Maria Goodman, whose extensive theatre credits include roles in Peter Pan, Jabberwocky, Aladdin, South Pacific and The Famous Five, will play the lead role of Tinkerbell, whilst Megan James is Honeysuckle and Olivia Chamberlain plays Cobweb. Tess Branchflower completes the line-up as Peaseblossom.

All the outdoor shows are presented in the style of picnic theatre, enabling the audience to bring along food, drink and a rug to sit on.