An evening open air theatre performance of Calderon’s Life’s a Dream at Wellow’s recreation ground by the professional Miracle Theatre Company has been hailed as a triumph by local residents. An audience of over 200 people brought chairs and a picnic to enjoy before this epic fable of love, war and destiny.

Based on Calderon’s greatest play, La Vida Es Sueño, published 20 years after Shakespeare’s death Life’s a Dream is regarded as the jewel in the crown of Spain’s golden age of theatre.

‘The play was packed with action, full of drama and passion’ explained Sheilagh Humphreys ‘and had a generous seam of comedy.  The cast involved the audience at various stages and they even managed to fit in the surprise appearance of a Hercules aircraft when it flew overhead!’

'It was a real community event - a team of volunteers dressed the field with bunting, gazebos and flares and helped the cast to unload the staging. The youngsters of the village made themselves useful by serving the workers with tea and refreshments and then helped to carry the audience's bulging picnic bags.  After the performance the cast were invited to the Fox & Badger before being escorted by torchlight to the three homes who generously provided overnight accommodation.'

Or was it all a Dream?