I saw this production when it first came to the Bridge in 2019, sat in the audience and absolutely loved it. My only regret was having chosen not to be in the pit, where everyone seemed to be having even more fun than I was. I then watched the recording with my kids, who were rolling around with laughter, which in the midst of the second COVID lockdown was exactly the mirth we all needed. So as soon as I heard that the Dream was making a come back, I bought tickets for the whole family – but this time, for the pit.

And I am so glad I did.

There is always that slight hesitance that comes with cast changes, especially when the changes are quite fundamental. Not only was Emmanuel Akwafo taking over Bottom from the totally hilarious Hammed Animashaun, but Susannah Fielding and JJ Field were replacing Gwendoline Christie and Oliver Chris as Hippolyta and Theseus. Will they live up to those who came before them? And there is a tiny bit of worry whether the jokes will be equally as funny the third time round?

Yes they did, and yes they were.

This performance is pure unadulterated entertainment. There is music, there is dance, there is acrobatics, there is humour and there are superb costumes. And the magic is accentuated by the movement of the in-the-round set – a series of platforms that rise and fall, beds that descend from the heavens, smoke that rises from the ground.

And of course, there is the Shakespeare, original text brilliantly delivered interspersed with present day references and quips. The swapping of the majority of Oberon and Titania’s lines works so well, that you might actually not realise what is happening until you are howling with laughter.

And it was amazing being in the pit, so close you could touch the actors, so close that some times you were in fact grabbed by them as I had the pleasure of being during Bottom’s climatic medley of death scene film quotes. My daughter even got to do a little dance routine with the absolutely brilliant David Moorst, whose anarchist Puck was just as cutting as he had been the first time round.

Standing, looking up at Puck, Tatiana and the crew of professional faeries suspended from silks in the air, walking around as fairy lights lit up the audience, keeping the giant moons afloat, I dare anyone to name a production of the Bard’s work that is this engaging and this much fun. This is how I believe theatre is meant to be.