Plays in Performance – Level 1 A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A complete performance-based drama unit introducing students to A Midsummer Night’s Dream through acting, exploration, and rehearsal rather than traditional text analysis.

Students explore the dramatic situations before encountering the Shakespeare text, making the play more accessible for younger learners.

The unit culminates in a 15–20 minute performance of selected scenes from the play.

Suitable for:

• KS3 Drama
• Middle School Theatre
• IB MYP Performing Arts
• International school drama programmes

Age range: 11–14

What’s Included

• Teacher System Guide
• Full 12-lesson scheme of work
• Detailed lesson plans with activities and timings
• Performance script pack (trimmed Shakespeare extracts)
• Extract alignment guide
• Optional activity banks for all phases of the unit

Unit Progression

The lessons move through five dramatic phases:

Authority & Choice – status and conflict

The Unknown Space – the forest and emotional confusion

Transformation – Bottom and physical comedy

Performance About Performance – Pyramus & Thisbe

Weaving the Story – rehearsal and performance

Final Outcome

Students perform a short showcase including:

• Court Confrontation
• Lovers’ Chaos
• Bottom & Titania
• Pyramus & Thisbe

Optional closing: The Fairy Blessing

Runtime: approx. 15–20 minutes

Skills Developed

Students practise:

• objective clarity
• physical storytelling
• ensemble awareness
• emotional reaction
• comic timing
• performance confidence

Assessment focuses on communication and performance skills rather than text recall.

Ideal For

• KS3 Shakespeare units
• Drama performance projects
• Theatre classes
• School showcases