THE last time I saw A Midsummer Night's Dream was at the Everyman in '80s Liverpool.

A young John Sessions was in the cast and it was a theatrical treat.

It was set in mystical, exotic Bali and I never thought I would see a magical show like it again.

Well, perchance to dream ... I have.

This production is masterful.

You arrive to see a single drum kit on stage and then the revelry begins as party-goers in modern dress start the ball rolling and it doesn't stop, with only the interval letting you catch your breath.

It's midsummer night and four young lovers flee Athens.

They lose themselves in the wild woodland falling under the spell of the king and queens who are away with the fairies, literally, in their own magical underworld.

Director Alex Clifton - fresh from success with his Beggars' Opera – has lovingly put together members of the Storyhouse Rep company who sparkle and bounce off each other.

Choreographer Rachel Catherall pulls out all the imaginative creative stops.

The music from Robert Hiley is perfect and the stage design by Jess Curtis does indeed work a dream – notably a beautiful lullaby.

Percussionist Josh Savage is also bang on.

This is a play where lighting can add so much and here it works a treat, thanks to Rob Halliday. 

Everyone of the 17-strong cast plays their part (and parts) to maximum effect.

No stranger to Merseyside audiences is Adam Keast at his versatile best – with plenty of facial expressions and physical skills in his role as weaver Nick Bottom.

His agonising death scene in the 'play-within-a-play' deserves a British Comedy Award alone.

His Bottom puts the 'luv' in luvvie.   

Plucky Puck sporting a Puck Rock t-shirt is impish and extremely likeable thanks to Thomas Richardson's impeccable timing.

Emily Johnstone as Helena and Vanessa Schofield's Hermia weave their magic on Fred Lancaster's Demetrius and Bianca Stephens as Lysander. This production is full of surprises.

The Storyhouse says it is suitable for kids from one to 92.

I couldn't agree more.

There's magic dust is in abundance – go and fall under the charm of this spellbinding interpretation of Shakespeare’s most accessible and joyous of comedies.

Mesemerising - Five stars

It is on until August 27

On stage at Storyhouse theatre and also at Grosvenor Open Air Theatre

Tickets from the Box Office at storyhouse.com