It was actually Mrs Chrisparkle who spotted this little nugget in the schedules, and she didn’t even seem put off by having to get up early to see it. It’s Shakespeare for Breakfast, on at +1 at C Venues – C, Chambers Street, at 10:00 am, on Monday 22nd. Let’s look at the blurb: “The bardic breakfasters are back! C’s sensational Shakespearience returns, for its 25th sell-out year, with free coffee and croissants! A pleasing plethora of pentameter, puns and pastry. Perfect for hardened Bard fans, blank verse virgins or those just after some quality fun over freshly-brewed coffee and freshly-baked coissants. ‘A bouncy and boisterous take on Willie’s work’ (List). ‘Well worth getting out of bed for’ (Independent). ‘No holds Bard’ (FringeGuru.com). ‘Irreverent humour… clever’ (Stage). ‘Side-splitting… glorious’ (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Full of fun’ (RemoteGoat.com). ‘Sizzling’ (Scottish Daily Express). Free coffee and croissants! Book early.”

If it really has been going for 25 years, and who am I to doubt, it must be doing something right! I believe this year we’re in for a dream of a Dream, so I am expecting a lot of Bottom humour and some very rude mechanicals. Check back around 11.15am to see if the cast of Emily Jane Kerr, Roseanna Connolly, Jonathan Davenport, Laura B Mortermore, and Noah Young were as funny as they sound, and by then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

That was just the funniest thing! How come we’ve never heard of this before? Five brilliant actors take A Midsummer Night’s Dream and make a totally different play out of it, with so many hilarious cultural references and not a little audience participation. One of the best dishes of Shakespeare ever served. No wonder it’s been going 25 years. If anything is worth getting up for early on a Monday morning – this is it!