Dream mix of Bard, bawd and butch...

With men playing rather butch women, the odd expletive and extra line added to the original text and even a couple of lively flatulence jokes, this version of Shakespeare’s wonderful comedy is quite a bit different than you might be used to.

Originally produced by Edward Hall’s generally brilliant all-male company, Propeller, in 2003 and revived here in rep with The Merchant of Venice, it reveals a couple of interesting things about this multi-award-winning outfit.

One, that having men play women is something we get used to in a very short time; and two, that we do so because even without this tried and tested gimmick — for want of a better word — Hall’s production is a blinder.

Set in a sort of lacy white box and with the fairies in long johns — except Puck (Jon Trenchard), who has a rather fetching tutu and ruby slippers — this is a lively, fast, almost pantomime-like Dream that flies by where others often drag.

The production is helped by concentrating on the play’s comedy at the expense of any of the dark nastiness at the play’s core.

Here the jokes are played as jokes; the scene of confrontation between the two couples in the forest is the funniest I’ve ever seen it done, the Pyramus and Thisbe episode a cause for waves of laughter.

There are some very funny performances: Trenchard is only one, for Richard Frame also scores lots of laughs as Hermia, and Bob Barrett is a giant if you’ll pardon the expression, Bottom, with his huge donkey ears and other appendage, the latter sufficient to get a lascivious look from Titania (Richard Dempsey)...

This is an ensemble play without star names (though if you shut your eyes, you might swear Trenchard is Blackadder’s Tony Robinson and Richard Clothier, as Oberon, has borrowed Peter O’Toole’s voice).

The 14-man company plays multiple roles, adds atmosphere with harmonicas, percussion instruments and the odd bit of singing and zips through the piece with total confidence. If you can get to see it, don’t hesitate.