Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is to be adapted into a bi-lingual production at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre, with Welsh becoming the language of the fairy kingdom.

Mari Izzard and the theatre’s writer in residence, Nia Morais, have adapted and created new dialogue in Welsh for the show, with English surtitles, working alongside dramaturg Branwen Davies.

It is being directed by Joe Murphy, the Sherman’s artistic director, who will also play with gender and sexuality in his new staging, including switching Lysander, one of the four Athenian lovers, to a female role, Lysanna.

It will run at the Sherman Theatre from 14 to 29 October 2022, with music by Eädyth Crawford, design by Elin Steele, lighting and projection designed by Andy Pike and sound designed by Ian Barnard.

Murphy said: “Few plays have the capacity to bring as much joy to audiences as A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s the play we all need right now.

“I am so excited by the new perspectives Mari and Nia have brought to the play and I can’t wait to start working with this sensational Welsh and Wales-based cast and creative team.”

The cast includes Lauren Morais as Lysanna, Nia Roberts as Titania and Hippolyta, Sion Ifan as Oberon and Theseus, Sion Pritchard as Bottom and Egeus, Hannah McPake as carpenter and theatre-maker Peter Quince, Leah Gaffey as Puck, Dena Davies as Hermia, Tom Mumford as Demetrius and Rebecca Wilson as Helena.

Izzard said: “After working on a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the RSC back in 2016, I knew that there was a beautiful bi-lingual version waiting to be explored inside this tale that we all know and love.”

Nia Morais added: “Adapting has been an exciting challenge and I can’t wait to watch the show.”

Tickets are on sale at www.shermantheatre.co.uk.