Reviewed by Elle at Theatre Royal in Nottingham
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
A classic that has been retold in many interpretations and finally a female empowered twist on a Shakespeare classic with tons of inclusivity.
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| Photo by Matt Crockett. |
‘& Juliet’ is a clever twist on William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The idea of what would happen if Juliet didn't take her own life at the end of the classic and instead went on an adventure of finding herself with a little nudge from Anne. With music from songwriter and producer Max Martin with songs by all of our favourites including P!nk, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and many more, this is a perfect show to see for a glitzy night out. Directed by Luke Sheppard, and choreographed by Jennifer Weber, this show first hit the West End in 2019 and has been attracting a crowd since and it's easy to see why.
One of the features that really supports the cast within this piece is the set by Soutra Gilmour, Costume by Paloma Young and a mention for the Hair, Wigs and Make Up team as these elements bring a fresh and energetic vibe to the story and this matches the music perfectly.
Juliet played by Geraldine Sacdalan has a strong voice that captivates from her very first appearance during ‘...Baby One More Time’. She plays the role with naivety and vulnerability but also is so excitable and vibrant that you can't help but root for her even when she's accidentally getting herself into situations that won't help her. At this performance Romeo was played by Liam Morris, initially coming across as a bit shallow Liam adds some real comedy to Romeo showing him as almost lovesick when Juliet is around and showing that he becomes vulnerable for her which is evident during the number ‘Love Me Like You Do’.
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| Jay McGuiness, Lara Denning, Gerardine Sacdalan and Sandra Marvin. Photo by Matt Crockett |
Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare, played by Lara Denning and Jay McGuiness are a power couple where vocals are concerned with pure cheekiness during numbers like ‘I Want It That Way’ but also noticed in the back of scenes. They truly play with the dynamic between the characters and create some magical moments that have meaning but also comedy.
Lee Latchford-Evans and Sandra Marvin play comedic roles Lance and Angeliqué who are rekindling a previous connection. Their use of timing within the choreography and exaggerated facial expressions to create comedic moments are guaranteed to get a laugh. Sandra Marvin conveys a mega amount of sass but really captures the audience during the song ‘Fuckin’ Perfect’.
Special mentions go to Kyle Cox as Francois and Jordan Broatch as May whose storyline makes this a storyline many can relate to with their uncertainty but pure innocence of their connection. The Ensemble is slick with choreography that is cool and vocal tones that really support the principals.
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| Lee Latchford-Evans and Sandra Marvin. Photo by Matt Crockett |
I really loved how new the story felt and showed so many parallels of the theme of star crossed lovers. The way this story celebrates all kinds of love makes it truly one not to miss and brings a feel good feeling throughout.
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& Juliet plays at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal until Saturday 19th April. Very limited tickets remain available from https://trch.co.uk/
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