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Jan. 20, 2025
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Conversation With Rachel Aanstad
Episode 152
Following on from my thoughts on A Midsummer Night’s Dream last time I’m very pleased to welcome back Rachel Aanstad to the podcast for further thoughts on the play. You may remember from our previous conversation about Twelfth Night that Rachel has devoted a lifetime to both the study and presentation of Shakespeare plays and as with Twelfth Night she has written an Illustrated Handbook and Encyclopaedia on ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. This includes a complete rendition of the play along with a detailed glossary of terms, scene by scene analysis, an examination of characters and themes and practical advice for anyone directing, acting in or producing the play. I found it invaluable in helping me to solidify my thoughts about the play and highly recommend it, whatever your interest in the play.
Rachel Aanstad is a writer, artist, historian and self-confessed Shakespeare nerd. She has an MFA in theatre and is the former Artistic Director of Rose City Shakespeare Company. She lives in the pacific Northwest from where she writes books about Shakespeare’s plays. For our purposes today she is supremely well qualified to discuss ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as, apart from her lifelong love of the play and her academic study, she has directed three productions of the play, one that was circus based, one that was burlesque based and one audio production.
Links to ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream: An Illustrated Handbook and Encyclopaedia':
UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midsummer-Nights-Illustrated-Handbook-Encyclopedia/dp/B09PKSTL1S/ref=sr_1_2
US link : https://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Nights-Illustrated-Handbook-Encyclopedia/dp/B09PKSTL1S/ref=sr_1_2
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Rachel Aanstad
R. K. Aanstad is a writer, artist, historian and Shakespeare nerd. She has an MFA in theatre and is the former Artistic Director of Rose City Shakespeare Company. She lives in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by books, cats, and silly little dogs. She writes books about Shakespeare’s plays including 'A Bawdy Twelfth Night or What You Will Encyclopedia & Dramaturgical Handbook' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream Illustrated Handbook and Encyclopedia'. She is currently writing Shakespeare’s Influences for Pen and Sword to be published in 2026.