A magical evening with Titania, Shakespeare's Queen of the Fairies

Nia Gwynne as Titania. Photo by Chris Clarke.

Titania – A new one-woman show by D R Hood. Performed by Nia Gwynne at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 24 – 25 April. Other dates and venues: 8 May: The Tolmen Centre, Constantine, Cornwall; 25 June: The Lyric Theatre, Bridport, Dorset. Running time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes (no interval).

Review by Ann Evans

‘Run towards things that scare you, so I am running full pelt.   Why wouldn’t you want to play the mother of the earth, the Queen of the Fairies?’  Nia Gwynne.

If anyone should take on the embodiment of Titania, Queen of the fairies, it’s Nia Gwynne. In fact, this one-woman play was written with her in mind by writer director Dictynna Hood. Not originally, of course – the creator of Titania 430 years ago was William Shakespeare for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. And as Nia mentions in this 75-minute show, it was her ‘ghost writer’s birthday yesterday’ 24th April.

RADA trained Nia, who has worked extensively in film, TV and on stage – particularly with the Royal Shakespeare Company, takes on the role as Titania in her own unique way. She is light and nimble, very fairy-like in her movements, very likeable as she makes her entrance, softly, as you realise the play has started without you knowing. She is just suddenly there, amongst the audience. She has a very relaxed manner in the way she talks to us humans – humorous and mischievous as we learn about her life now.

Nia Gwynne becomes Titania. Photo by Chris Clarke.

Most of her fairies have gone and she’s cleaning the theatre where she now lives. She shares her memories, including her husband Oberon’s trick to make her look a fool when she fell in love with a donkey. Although she cheekily points out a different side of that little incident!

As she puts aside her sweeping broom to take a tea break, she opens up a trunk – the only prop or piece of furniture on the bare stage. And she reveals what she has recently stolen from the ‘human’ world she now inhabits. She considers giving it back but already loves it and wants to care for it. She asks the audience whether she ought to return it to the ‘human’ world.

It’s a fascinating and whimsical performance that takes you through a realm of emotions – and questions – she has a knack of asking the audience pertinent questions that make you stop and think. Her conversation with the audience is often poetical, or comical, sometimes Shakespearean, often darkened with sorrow or brightened with humour. And when she had finally told us all that she wanted to tell us, she simply leaves, as softly and unassumingly as she had arrived.

Talking about writing Titania, writer/director Dictynna Hood had this to say: “Titania emerged from a year on the move, living in Cornwall, attending to the details of the seasons, flowers, gales, floods, woods.  It’s a place where the fairy queen might definitely be still living. I have been wanting to return to directing for a while and suggested to Nia that I write a piece for her to perform – the fact of her saying yes, has made me write it.  Whether or not you know Midsummer Night’s Dream, we want to bring audiences a piece that is funny and entertaining as well as keeping the faith in magic – theatrical or something deeper - in difficult times.”

Titania holds onto something that isn't hers. Photo by Chris Clarke.

Nia Gwynne had this to say about playing Titania: “Dictynna and I have known each other for several years now but never had the chance to properly work together so this is exciting.  It’s very collaborative and we are enjoying the direct address nature of it very much.  It’s storytelling but it’s also a conversation with the audience, it questions what’s happening with us in the world now – and we hope that we can bring it to all sorts of audiences and that we get to open discussion with people all over the country.”  

A lovely performance, a delightful insight into one of Shakespeare’s most beloved characters, and if you didn’t believe in fairies before, I think you may after meeting Titania.

For tickets to The Bear Pit visit https://www.thebearpit.org.uk/whats-on/titania/ Or call the Box Office: 0333 666 3366