For the first time in the 150-year history of Alexandra Palace, its basements will be opened to stage a theatrical performance.

Immersive theatre mavericks RIFT have interpreted Shakespeare in unusual locations for the last ten years. Now, they will utilise the cavernous atmosphere of Alexandra Palace’s basement spaces to stage an immersive performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The myriad characters steal through distorted TV studios and into live streams, the lovers, fairies and actors ebb and flow throughout the space. The site-specific production uses the Victorian basement to house the characters, as the audience watch from within the same walls.

RIFT’s previous Shakespeare performances include The Tempest (O Brave New World) in an East London shop and an overnight Macbeth at Balfron Tower in Poplar.

RIFT co-founder Felix Mortimer said: “This project is a natural progression from our last Shakespeare production. Macbeth centred around the concept of sleeplessness, overnight in a Poplar tower block. Now we want to explore A Midsummer Night’s Dream, drawing out its magical properties of sleep, hedonism, bestiality and ‘the other’, whilst immersed underground.”

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY, Tuesday, September 3, to Saturday, September 28. Details: 020 8365 2121 alexandrapalace.com