Lisneal College presents sun-soaked performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The end of term production of Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy marked the completion of a two year-long project undertaken by students as part of the Creative Schools Programme. The pioneering cross-government programme is funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Education Authority. It encourages schools to think outside of traditional approaches to learning by introducing professional artists to classrooms to build confidence, make community connections and teach new skills.

The live outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was performed in Lisneal’s own school amphitheatre.

This is the first time that this space has been used for a production and over 25 students from key stage three worked closely with the professional director Laura Douglas and producer Jonathan Burgess (Blue Eagle Productions) on the project.

Teacher Michelle Lake has led on the project. She said: “It’s been fantastic to see the students working under the expert guidance of Jonathan and Laura. This approach has allowed the students to explore acting in new ways which has really helped bring the production to life. When it came to the final performance it was incredible to see the students take ownership of the process and to finally see the amphitheatre being brought to life on midsummer’s day.”

Marie O’Donoghue, Creative Schools Programme Manager, commented: “What a privilege it was to witness Lisneal College bring A Midsummer Night’s Dream to life under the open sky! Head of Drama Michelle Lake, along with the brilliant direction of Laura Boreman and the expert production work of Jonathon Burgess, deserve high praise for turning this ambitious vision into a magical reality. Months of dedication, creativity, and pure joy were poured into this performance — and it showed. The young cast captivated us all with their energy and teamwork, proving just how powerful it is when young people are given the freedom and support to shine. It was more than a play — it was a celebration of talent, confidence, and collaboration and summertime."

Patricia Lavery, Head of Participatory Arts and Education at the Arts Council commented: “Lisneal College has been involved in the Creative Schools Programme since it was first launched. Seven years on, the impact of this programme can really be seen within the school, the students involved are keen to learn, have forged positive connections with their community, and hopefully, developed a life-long love of the arts. We are immensely proud of everything the students have achieved over the past two years.”