Review: Romeo and Juliet at New Theatre, Cardiff
Last night George and I headed out for the night to review Romeo and Juliet at New Theatre, Cardiff. I absolutely adore the romance of this play, the concept of dying for love is heartbreakingly romantic, so I was keen to see a fresh take on the story.
Review: Romeo and Juliet at New Theatre, Cardiff
I remember reading Romeo and Juliet when I was in my teens and falling totally in love with the idea of love. I then moved on to the classic Zeffirelli movie followed by Baz Luhrmann‘s timeless modern day version. If films can make you fall more in love with plays, well both of these did that and more!
When we found our seats I felt a bit deflated at the stage and setting; a large cube and not much else. It had a very industrial feel but I couldn’t imagine it offering much, but how wrong I was! The cube turned and twisted, it had a trapdoor and ladder, it was a balcony and a tomb. It moved and a new scene was unveiled in the most unlikely way! I loved it and it fitted in perfectly with the modern day setting and costume. I even heard a lady outside the theatre say how amazing she thought the set was, and that is was her favourite Romeo and Juliet production to date 🙂
The costumes consisted mostly of streetwear; trainers and slim fit jeans, greys, blacks and occasional muted tones created a vibe to match the copper streaked cube. I loved the whole feel of it, but would the performances match up?
Firstly, I have to say how amazing Romeo (Bally Gill) was. His performance reminded me slightly of Danny from Grease (I can’t explain this!), as he swooned over Juliet throughout the play. He gave so much energy and heart throughout and I couldn’t get enough of him when he was on the stage. He really made the character his own, from start to finish.
Gill’s chemistry with Karen Fishwick (Juliet) was beautifully performed, and she shone in a more classical version of the lovestruck 14 year old. Her despair and anguish was perfectly played out, alongside the youthful spirit of a young girl.
Alongside these two fantastic performers was my favourite performer of the night; Charlotte Josephine as Mercutio. Mercutio is my favourite character from the play, destined to feed the worms right from the start. Casting a female for this role was a fantastic move, and she absolutely rocks it! Her energy and timing throughout gave a edgy feel to the role, and every single time she came on the stage I felt 100% drawn into her world. I cannot wait to catch her in future productions!
I also want to mention Ishia Bennison who performed as Juliet’s nurse. She was fantastic. She gave the performance a humorous edge, with lots of giggles from the audience as she interacted with the rest of the cast.
In terms of choreography, I was a little unsure of how the spirits of Tybalt and Mercutio were used upon the stage. However, the rest of the choreography was excellent, with interactions around the cube and my favourite part has to be the dance scene when Romeo and Juliet finally meet after seeing each other across the room. I loved this moment, it was very sweet, modern and the anticipation was perfectly pitched!
I really love how the whole performance lends itself to today’s world. From modern day hints through timing, dialect and body language, to the relationship between this play and today’s current situation with rising knife crime. The ‘daggers’ within the play became street knives and the fighting more in line with today’s knife culture; it was perfectly done.
I can see how this performance is reaching out to the current generation of young people and asking them to question the world in which we live. To stop the fighting, stop the gangs. and end knife crime for good.
If you are a Romeo and Juliet fan, I implore you to book your tickets now, because you won’t be disappointed. Prices start from £5 and you can get your tickets from New Theatre.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my review of Romeo and Juliet at New Theatre, Cardiff. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below…
