Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing by William Blake (1786)
{Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons}
Let’s veer slightly from history mix-ins today, and talk about Shakespeare again! We are starting A Midsummer Night’s Dream and to celebrate and get us all into the spirit of Shakespeare, below are several videos and just a few supplemental links to mix in over the remainder of the trimester, if you choose (using parental discretion, of course!):
VIDEOS:
Here’s a selection of film versions and adaptations you and your family might enjoy after we read the play. There are more out there, but this is a good place to start! Maybe you want to see a more traditional version first (there are a few listed here), but also try out some of the fun and creative options below:
Did you catch this abridged version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed by kids, that we shared back in March? It’s great for younger students.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Here’s the classic 1968 film version, directed by Sir Peter Hall and using The Royal Shakespeare Academy's cast of actors (including Helen Mirren, Judi Dench and Ian Holm). You can also watch it on Amazon Prime.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream on stage – Here’s a filmed live play, performed by Rice University:
Clip from Shakespeare’s Globe A Midsummer Night’s Dream – This was recorded live at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London in June 2013. This gives you an idea of the quality of this performance, and you can purchase the DVD here if you’re interested.
The Seussification of A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Here’s an unusual idea… combining Shakespeare with Dr. Seuss:
Shakespeare The Animated Tales–A Midsummer Night’s Dream – This is a well-done 25-minute animated version of the story, using much of Shakespeare’s language:
(If your kids like this one, this series also has videos for Hamlet and Othello on Vimeo. You may also be able to find other Shakespeare videos in this series on YouTube.)
Midsummer Night’s Dream Disney – This 6-minute version is a cute Mickey Mouse adaptation:
Kids Explain Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – This is funny! From the Great River Shakespeare Festival, this video is similar to the hilarious “Kid History” videos. Kids explain the story while adult actors act out what they are saying.
Midsummer Night’s Dreaming Trailer – From the Royal Shakespeare Company, this humorous summary of the story is only 2 minutes long:
And for the parents: A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Hugh Bonneville – This is available on PBS, and is somewhat of a documentary about the play, hosted by Hugh Bonneville.
WEBSITES:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – From the British Council, here kids can watch an animated short story version and play a game based on the play.
The Children’s Shakespeare by E. Nesbit – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – This is only an audio recording of the story, but a very nice version for kids to hear to help understand the play.
The Read-Along Shakespeare Podcast – Here’s a series of read-along podcasts with explanations and analysis for A Midsummer Night’s Dream from Clear Shakespeare.
Printable Puppets and Coloring Pages – Based on characters from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Globe Playground – This is generally all about Shakespeare, with several activities for kids to make, play, read, watch, etc.
If you happen to find yourself in London this summer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is playing at the Globe Theater now through September 11! Here’s the website for details.
If you aren’t so fortunate to be traveling to London but still want to see live Shakespeare this summer, here’s a link to the Central Coast Shakespeare Festival website, where you can view their schedule and purchase tickets. They will be performing Romeo and Juliet this summer!
