We are teaming up with a psychologist and dreaming researcher from DreamsID for a Facebook Live on Wednesday 9 February at 7pm. Inspired by our upcoming new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which opens at Theatre Royal Glasgow on February 22, we are delving in to the science behind our own dreams and the subconscious thoughts behind them.
During the event, cast member and Emerging Artist Lea Shaw, who will play Hermia in the show , will discuss a recent dream with sleep scientist Professor Mark Blagrove, while artist Dr Julia Lockheart paints her interpretation of it.
With this live art event taking place on the Scottish Opera Facebook page, you can tune in from your own homes from anywhere in the world and interact with the session through the live chat.
The session uses a well-researched method to relate the dream to the recent waking life of the dreamer. While the discussion occurs, artist Dr Julia Lockheart paints the dream onto pages chosen from Freud’s book The Interpretation of Dreams. With a mixture of art, and conversation about the possible background to the dream, as well as the telling of the dream, remote audience members will also be able to ask their own questions live.
After the event an art print of the painting is mounted and framed for presentation to the dreamer, enabling the dream to be discussed in the future with family and friends.
Directed by Dominic Hill, Artistic Director of Citizens Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream opens with three performances at Theatre Royal Glasgow, before transferring to Festival Theatre Edinburgh on 1 March, for a further three dates. Scottish Opera Music Director Stuart Stratford conducts a dynamic cast that includes recent Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Catriona Hewitson as Tytania, widely praised for her performances in the Company’s recent productions of Così fan tutte and L’elisir d’amore, and David Shipley (Rigoletto 2018), as Bottom. They are both making their role debuts alongside countertenor Lawrence Zazzo as Oberon. Also in the cast is Scottish tenor and broadcaster, Jamie MacDougall (Falstaff 2021); former Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Elgan Llŷr Thomas (Falstaff 2021); Dingle Yandell (Tosca 2019); Jonathan McGovern (The Telephone 2020) and 2021-22 Emerging Artists, Lea Shaw and Glen Cunningham, who both recently toured with Opera Highlights. They are joined by a children’s chorus.
You can find the Facebook event here.