The very popular Rude Mechanical Theatre Company will be coming back to St Thomas’ Primary School field this summer on Sunday 24th June with their new play. It will be their 20th year of touring. ‘Oberon’s Cure’ is based on Titania’s accusation in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ that her husband Oberon has had an affair with ‘this bouncing Amazon’, Hippolyta, and is therefore an imagined prequel to Shakespeare’s play.

It is basically about an old man who is not capable of resisting a beautiful young woman. Now when hasn’t that been in the news recently! But he is made to look ridiculous by his inadequacy – and the foolish lack of self-awareness makes him into a sad, pathetic individual. But there is forgiveness, too, as Titania teaches him a lesson and appeals to him to grow old gracefully (with her and not be always chasing after girls).

But do we want to grow old gracefully? It is an old story, which people will recognise and laugh at because of its familiarity. There are things to admire too: Hippolyta’s wiliness as she wraps Oberon round her little finger and Briony’s child-like, innocent, but tough, determination to work out the confusion of life and emerge as a young woman.

The performance starts at 7.30pm as usual, but you can get there from 6pm with your picnics. Bring your own low backed chairs and warm clothes. Tickets are available online from the Rudes website www.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk or locally from Hilary Roome – 07923 451431. You won’t want to miss this funny, romantic and rather poetic offering from the Rudes.