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Quick Summary
Oakfields College's Faculty of Musical Theatre and Dance closed its 2026 season with a three-day run of A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Musical at the Lesedi Theatre, Joburg Theatre, from 28 to 30 August. The show, performed entirely by first- to third-year students, drew praise from teachers, industry veterans and audiences alike. Auditions for the 2027 Musical Theatre and Dance programme are now open, taking place on 26 September and 24 October 2026.
Oakfields College's Faculty of Musical Theatre and Dance closed out its 2026 season with a triumphant three-day run of A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Musical, performed at the Lesedi Theatre at Joburg Theatre from 28 to 30 August. The bold, contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare's beloved comedy left audiences, educators and industry veterans alike calling it one of the standout student productions in recent memory.
Performed by Oakfields College's first- to third-year Musical Theatre and Dance students, the production transported audiences into an enchanted forest where fairies meddle in the affairs of mortals, love is turned upside down, and nothing is quite as it seems. Director Tracey Human, who also designed the set, led a creative team spanning musical direction (Dale Ray), choreography, lighting, costume and stage management, alongside a company of over 20 student performers. Guest appearances came from Sandi Dlangalala as Puck, Danny Meaker as Demetrius, and Grant Towers as Egeus.
A Standing Ovation from the Community
The response from the audience was immediate and overwhelming. A Grade 10 Dramatic Arts teacher who brought her class to the show said:
"Watching this modern adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream was an absolutely amazing experience. The production brought Shakespeare's timeless comedy to life in a fresh, energetic and captivating way, while still preserving the magic and essence of the original story. A truly memorable theatrical experience for all my Gr 10 Dramatic Arts learners and myself!"
Grade 10 Dramatic Arts teacherAnother educator who attended with students added:
"Well done on an incredible show. I was blown away. It was truly spectacular and my students loved it. The songs matched the play so well. The dancing was wonderful. The sets were beautiful. The staging was excellent. I'm so impressed!!"
Visiting educatorGeneral audience members were equally moved:
"What a performance!!! Absolutely brilliant. We loved every minute of it. The music. The humour. We thoroughly enjoyed Shakespeare. I could sit through the entire performance again. It ended my weekend on a very high note."
Audience memberPerhaps the strongest endorsement came from an industry veteran, who compared the show's potential to some of theatre's biggest crossover successes:
"WOW! What a magnificent production! In all my decades in theatre, I have never wanted to jump up onto my feet after just the opening number! It reminded me of the Off-Broadway/Off-West End successes like Hair, Rocky Horror, and more recently Titanique, and how they turned into international hits. I feel the same way about Midsummer Night's Dream: The Musical. I thought it was brilliant!"
Industry veteranMore Than a Student Production
A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Musical is the latest example of the industry-focused training that defines Oakfields College's Musical Theatre and Dance programme. Its graduates continue to build successful careers across the global entertainment industry, performing in West End productions, international tours, cruise entertainment and leading professional productions in South Africa. This production once again demonstrated that Oakfields College students are not simply preparing for the industry: they are already performing at a professional standard.
"This is exactly what we set out to build at Oakfields College. Our students don't wait until graduation to become performers, they are performing at industry level while they train. The response from this weekend's audiences, educators and industry guests confirms what we already know: this is where extraordinary talent is made."
Nicole Finney, CEO, Oakfields CollegeAuditions Now Open for the 2027 Musical Theatre and Dance Programme
With A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Musical now etched into Oakfields College's growing list of standout productions, the college's Musical Theatre and Dance department turns its attention to the future, welcoming the next generation of performers into its #CreativeFamily. Auditions for the 2027 Musical Theatre and Dance programme take place on Saturday 26 September and Saturday 24 October 2026.
Prospective students can find the full programme details, the audition application form and the audition procedure on the Musical Theatre and Dance programme page.
Ready to audition for 2027?
Auditions for Oakfields College's Musical Theatre and Dance programme take place on 26 September and 24 October 2026. Start your application today.
Start your application →To share your thoughts on the production, visit Oakfields College's Musical Theatre and Dance department on Instagram or Facebook (@oakfieldscollegemtd).
About Oakfields College
Oakfields College is a private creative arts institution operating under the UXI Private Education Group, with campuses in Pretoria (Lynnwood) and Edenvale (East Rand). The college offers accredited full-time diplomas and higher certificates across performing arts, filmmaking, sound technology, graphic design, animation, photography and fashion, alongside a growing Short Learning Programme division, training the next generation of creative professionals under the ethos "Ditch Ordinary, Be Extraordinary."
