Romeo and Juliet

(Critique en français : Cliquez ici)

By: William SHAKESPEARE

Directed by: Rebecca FRECKNALL

Set designer:  Chloe LAMFORD

Costume designer: Debbie DURU

Lighting design: Lee CURRAN

Sound designer: Gareth FRY

Costume supervisor: Alexandra KHARIBIAN

Fight director: Jonathan HOLBY

Associate director: Justina KEHINDE

Assistant costume supervisor: Claire NICOLAS

Casting director: Julia HORAN

Starring:

Raphael AKUWUDIKE, Jamie BALLARD, Miles BARROW, Amanda BRIGHT, Luke CINQUE-WHITE, James COONEY, Isis HAINSWORTH, Paul HIGGINS, Jyuddah JAYMES, Kieron JECCHINIS, Toheeb JIMOH, Jo McINNES, Daniel PHUNG, Jack RIDDIFORD and Gideon TURNER

until 29 july 2023

At Almeida Theatre

Rebecca FRECKNALL is currently the most exciting director in the West End. After revolutionizing Cabaret and A Streetcar named Desire, both award winning shows, she adapts one of the biggest plays ever: Romeo and Juliet. Despite our fears in front of text seen so many times on stage, we were curious to see what she would do with a giant like Shakespeare.

As soon as the show starts, there’s a hit. A giant wall is in front of the audience. Actors arrive from the back of the theatre, stop in front of the wall and put their hands against it as titles are projected on it. In an moment where we held our breath, the wall begins to fell and go faster in its fall, making us wait for a shock against the floor that never comes. The wall is now lying on the floor and has become the stage of our show.

Then we come back to the usual Fecknall we like: the central stage is the place of the action. Around it can be seen rudimentary sets and actors sitting when they’re not needed. The rhythm is fast and sequences just go one after the other without time for breathing. Characters are in position before the end of the previous scene and starts as soon as they can, a drum sound being the only transition between scenes.

It makes it alive, but it’s also dancing as the two clans are part of impressive ballets sequences. We’re fascinated by the direction, with the impression to see a brand new play. Despite that, as often the case, the actor playing Mercutio – Jack RIDDIFORD here – is the star everytime he appears on star. Handsome, young and charismatic, his fate is even more tragic. The direct follow-up loses a bit of this good balance. We can probably blame the original words there, even if that’s when the adult actors get to shine – mostly Paul HIGGINS and Jamie BALLARD.

Star from the television, Toheeb JIMOH is a convincing Romeo and plays the part lightly. Laughs are present and almost make us forget we’re at a tragedy. Isis HAINSWORTH really is at her best during the last Juliet moments. We end on a fantastic note with a ghost ballet followed by an ultime scene as beautiful – the set – as brutal – the shocking death of both lovers. We didn’t see the two hours without interval go by and we leave the theatre with memories that stay on, as the burning candles on stage during our exit.

The story

Your family teaches you to hate.
You meet someone forbidden.
You act without thinking.

Verona is a powder keg of blood-lust and rage, with death threats proudly shouted in the streets. As two families wage war, will a young couple become the next sacrifice of this brutal feud?

Photography by: Marc BRENNER

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

BOOK TICKETS

Aurélien.