A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Malandain Ballet Biarritz

Choreography Thierry Malandain
Music Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Sets and costumes design Jorge Gallardo
Lights François Menou
Costumes Véronique Murat, Charlotte Margnoux
Sets Frédéric Vadé Accessories Annie Onchalo

Preview on September 5th 2025 – Festival le Temps d’Aimer la Danse, Biarritz (FR)

Duration 70 min

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Thierry Malandain takes over the most bewitching and timeless of William Shakespeare’s plays, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred.

In the forest, forces of imagination and subconsciousness are unleashed, leading young people into a struggle against social and family restrictions that weigh heavily on their hearts. Amidst elves and fairies, who is manipulating whom? Nothing is true, nothing is false; everything is a dream or a lie… Against the irrational rules of the forest face those of Athens.

Set to Mendelssohn’s spellbinding symphony, Thierry Malandain’s dance is neo-classical, powerful, earthy – always musical – combining romantic parades and nocturnal spells.
An invitation to explore the depths of our humanity, to delve into the most secret corners of our imagination.

Production CCN Malandain Ballet Biarritz / Coproduction Festival de Danse de Cannes – Côte d’Azur France, Maison de la Danse – Lyon, Teatro Victoria Eugenia – Ballet T – Ville de Donostia San Sebastian, Theater Bonn – Allemagne, Opéra de Saint-Etienne, Festival de Musique et de Danse de Grenade (Espagne) / Supports Carré des Mécènes du Malandain Ballet Biarritz, Association Amis du Malandain Ballet Biarritz

In the repertoire