The East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF) officially launched its 2026 summer season on Friday night with a lively outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Opening at Lloyd Park in Walthamstow, the production has released its first-look production photography as it begins an extensive tour across parks and community open spaces, entertaining family audiences across East London and Kent until August 23.
Bursting with mischief, romance, and magic, this joyful, family-friendly outdoor production reimagines Shakespeare’s classic comedy with a chaotic splash of contemporary flair. Audiences are invited to escape into an enchanted forest alongside the star-crossed lovers Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius, who quickly get more than they bargained for when a vibrant troupe of magical woodland fairies take matters into their own hands.
The production boasts a stellar ensemble cast, featuring Kareem Alexander Yousri (Doctor Who) as Lysander and Off West End Award-nominee Kalifa Taylor as Hermia. They are joined on stage by Bad Education star Jack Bence, Ursula Early (EastEnders), Miranda Braun (Sense and Sensibility), Benedict C Jones, and Annabelle Blake. ELSF's hallmark style infuses the classic text with high-energy musical numbers, slapstick comedy, and immersive audience participation, ensuring an accessible theatrical experience for everyone.
The production is directed and co-produced by Rosie Frecker, with Ursula Early serving as associate director and co-producer alongside Rosie Ward. The world-class creative team also features vibrant set and costume design by Jamie Wheeler, choreography by movement director Genevieve Dunne, and an original soundscape by musical director Sonum Batra, with the touring stage built by Andrew Hollingworth.
Following its initial weekend run in Walthamstow, the festival's nomadic stage will travel to numerous outdoor spaces throughout June, July, and August. Notable tour stops include Greenwich's Royal Observatory, Crystal Palace Park, Ealing's Gunnersbury Park, and Clissold Park in Stoke Newington, before concluding with a series of coastal dates across Kent. Tickets for all touring venues are currently available to book online.
