Justin Audibert and Hannah Joss's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Chichester Festival Theatre reimagines Shakespeare's play as a 1990s rave set against John Major's Conservative government's crackdown on illegal raves. The high-concept staging harnesses the play's textual references to "love juice" and magical potions to justify a narrative in which drug use and hallucination explain the fantastical elements, creating a clever vehicle for exploring the cultural and political tensions of the era. The production proves remarkably successful at making the play's more archaic elements—such as the "law of Athens" condemning women to death or convent for refusing paternal marriage arrangements—feel disturbingly plausible within the context of 1990s Conservative moral hardening.

The cast reimagines key roles to amplify the production's satirical edge: Egeus becomes Chief Constable of West Sussex, Duke Theseus becomes an MP for a Conservative-held Chichester seat, and Oberon becomes a DJ orchestrating a rave-based cult. Comedian Munya Chawawa makes his theatrical debut as Nick Bottom, a video shop owner, delivering slapstick performances that earn standing applause. The production bolsters female agency throughout, with Lysander reimagined as bisexual Lysanda and characters such as Hippolyta wielding physical power. The review runs until 17 October at Chichester Festival Theatre.