Two households, both alike in dignity on the Verona council estate where they lay their scene.
Derby Shakespeare captivated audiences with their contemporary twist on Shakespeare’s beloved romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The outdoor performance invited audiences to settle in with fold-out chairs and picnics, creating a charming atmosphere that perfectly complemented the stunning rendition of this timeless play.
Set in modern-day England, the play portrays a landscape where gang warfare is rampant, with the Montagues and Capulets locked in bitter rivalry. While the aesthetics have been updated, the narrative remains true to Shakespeare’s eloquent prose. Jack Anthony, who plays Romeo with boyish charm, captivates the audience as he bounces around the stage, initially infatuated with unresponsive Rosaline. The Montague gang crashes their enemies’ fancy-dress party at the Capulet house, where Romeo first glimpses Juliet and instantly falls in love. Emily Cant brilliant embodies Juliet as a recognisable teenage girl, sharing a genuinely wonderful on-stage chemistry with Jack Anthony’s Romeo.
It is evident that a lot of time and effort has been dedicated to this production. The two-story set, covered in graffiti, immediately signals a modern twist on the tale, supplemented by contemporary music playing as the audience settled in. Modernising Romeo and Juliet proved to be a winning choice, resonating with current issues like knife crime in the UK. The costumes, especially the fancy dress outfits, were well thought out and hilarious, adding to the modern charm.
One standout modernisation was the character of Nurse, played to perfection by Alex Wrampling. Transformed into some kind of childless, drunk auntie, Wrampling’s performance was mesmerising, especially in scenes with the equally brilliant Lady Capulet, portrayed by Laura Horvath. Their characterisations were extremely entertaining. However, the use of Friar Lawrence didn’t translate as well to the modern era. Despite Mo Pickering-Symes’s sensational portrayal and captivating flower monologue, it felt unrealistic for modern-day Romeo to seek advice from a priest.
The play featured moments of high choreography, from knife fights to dance numbers, which the cast and creative team executed flawlessly. The intricate fight scenes, particularly between Mercutio (Zoe Grunnell) and Tybalt (Harry Hodder), were highly commendable.
If I were to offer constructive criticism, it would concern the varying levels of characterisation. There seemed to be two schools of performance: one adhering to a traditional ‘performed’ Shakespearian style with RP accents and grand gestures, and another depicting real-life characters. The characters I was most attuned with — Capulet (Ian Currie), Montague (Tom Morley), Nurse (Alex Wrampling), Lady Capulet (Laura Horvath), Friar Lawrence (Mo Pickering-Symes), and Friar John (E. Montgomery Ashford) — were those who embraced a more naturalistic or modern performance style.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Derby Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It was a fantastic play in a beautiful setting, enhanced more so by the lovely staff handling tickets and seating. If you get a chance, see Romeo and Juliet at Markeaton Park from 24th - 27th July 2024. I’m also excited to see what they do with Macbeth at the Repton 400 Hall Theatre in October 2024.
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