What joyful exuberance there is about the RSC at the moment. The epic cycle of history plays nears the end of its triumphant run at the Roundhouse and now Gregory Doran’s sparkling night of midsummer madness in the Athenian forest proves a welcome, not to mention seasonal, addition to the Stratford repertoire.

The initial reaction, strangely, is one of disappointment. There’s been a marked trend away from “pretty” Dreams in recent years and Francis O’Connor’s design is duly sparse. If any of Shakespeare’s works could do with some decent set dressing, it’s this one. Soon, though, it’s happily apparent that Doran is providing something far more vital in this modern-dress production: an undeniable aura of magic.

There is an assured sense that this out-of-town place, beyond courtly civility, is somewhere that anything could happen, where events could, thrillingly, swing either way. A large, translucent plastic globe progresses elegantly across the ceiling describing the passage of night into day and a raft of tiny baubles swing down and light up, yet the fairies are black-clad, emo-looking and impishly obstructive. They, together with the Brummieaccented Mechanicals whose Bottom (Joe Dixon) is a treasure and Pyramus and Thisbe scene delightful, provide much of the rich seam of fun that Doran cleverly mines.

The four mixed-up young lovers, whose underwhelming scenes feel forced, form the weakest link. Hermia (Kathryn Drysdale) is an arrogant little minx due her comeuppance; Helena, although played by that fine comic actress Natalie Walter, is artificially geeky, with her baggy cardy and glasses that are just ripe for the taking off. No wonder the fairies decide to play tricks on them all and Oberon and Titania rise above the sluggish mortal realm with some flying worthy of the best Peter Pan.

A magical final image seals the evening: as Puck (nicely world-weary Mark Hadfield) bids us adieu, lights and soap bubbles gently spread out over the audience. Sweet dreams indeed.

In rep until 13 Nov. Information: 0844 800 1110, www.rsc.org.uk.