Steve Arnold, who played Ashley Peacock in Coronation Street from 1996 until his character was killed off in a tram crash in December 2010, will play Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Groundlings Theatre in Portsmouth.
This is Steve’s first time performing Shakespeare and he said: “Bottom is a great part as I am an actor playing an actor, but Bottom thinks he is a lot better than what he is, which is a great role to take on.”
Groundlings’ Richard Stride, who plays Oberon, said: “I am really looking forward to getting back on the stage and working with such a great cast.
“Oberon is King of the fairies so I should have some fun with that!”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is ultimately a love story but the course of true love never runs smooth. Shakespeare put some of his most dazzling dramatic poetry at the service of this teasing, glittering, hilarious and amazingly inventive play, whose seriousness is only fleetingly glimpsed beneath its dreamlike surface.
Groundlings Theatre will be transformed into a forest with huge trees towering over the audience, with an opportunity to sit on cushions at the front but normal seating will be available.
Tickets: tel 023 9273 7370 or go to groundlings.co.uk. The production runs until May 16.
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