Rare Publicity Photos of Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Diana Rigg in Racy '68 Film, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

Free love and free spirits were all the rage in the late 60s, so it makes sense that Peter Hall's 1968 film version of Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, with its frisky young lovers and mischievous faeries, would feature a scantily-clad cast frolicking through the woods.

Hall, who was artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company at the time, assembled a collection of male actors that was impressive enough - Derek Godfrey as Theseus, Ian Holm as Puck, Paul Rogers as Bottom and Ian Richardson as Oberon - but, looking back on the film today, it's most impressive feature is its impeccable trio of leading ladies.

Shakespeare's two romantically frustrated women, Hermia and Helena, were played, respectively, by Helen Mirren and Diana Rigg (photo below). The Faery Queen Titania was essayed by Judi Dench (above), who played the role nearly nude, though strategically covered by her hair, the foliage and camera angles.

David Farrell's rarely seen publicity photos from Hall's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM are featured in a new exhibition at Compton Verney, an independent national art gallery located nine miles from Stratford-upon-Avon. "Shakespeare in Art: Tempests, Tyrants and Tragedy," running through June 19th, is one of the many worldwide events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the playwright's death and includes paintings, photography, projections and readings by leading members of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Farrell's archive is curated by his granddaughter, Georgia Adams, who tells The Telegraph, "My grandmother Manning said that the crew wondered whether Judi Dench's mother minded her daughter appearing half naked on film."

"Nearly the whole film was set in the woodland," she adds. "It was really cold! The actors and actresses wore limited amounts of clothing and had to put up with long hours outside. Diana Rigg apparently showed off a fur coat that she had recently bought and wore it in between takes."

Visit comptonverney.org.uk and click the Twitter post below for a full collection of photos.