‘Romeo + Juliet’ is an enthralling, revitalised retelling of a well loved classic. This modern twist version brings non-conformity and uninhibited love to the forefront. It screams rebellion with fresh dark and sultry lens. The production addresses many important topical societal conversations, a thought provoking production not to be missed!
Matthew Bourne’s ‘Romeo + Juliet’ gives Shakespeare’s timeless story of forbidden love a scintillating injection of raw passion and youthful vitality. Confined against their will by a society that seeks to divide, our two young lovers must follow their hearts as they risk everything to be together.
Rory Macleod as Romeo had a strong stage presence, his energy throughout never stilted. His technique paired with his stamina was most impressive to witness. MacLeod’s depiction of Romeo was youthful and despite the tragic storyline the parts of the character which stood out was the inquisitiveness of the character eager to delve into a new world with Juliet.
Monique Jonas was a particularly emotive Juliet. Although the expressive moments through dance were heightened and to a point exaggerated Jonas had a somewhat naturalistic approach to the character. Her facial expressions were extremely effective in driving her perspective which the production mostly focuses on.
The synchronicity and chemistry between the two lovers was astounding. The choreography was visually beautiful and well balanced. There was a greatness between how their bodies intertwined emphasising that teenage dream and longing for each other but the real artistry was in the gaps between them and tensions these gaps created.
Danny Reubens as Tybalt hit the nail on the head with his depiction of this version of Tybalt, he was aggressive and frightening to watch. He posed a great danger, genuinely concerning the audience. Reubens handled the character carefully, striking a balance as to not coming across caricature like. His character was well considered given the darkness of the characters flaws.
The entire ensemble created some really interesting character work, the repetitive movements during the asylum lulls were particularly fascinating as each individual had a new interpretation of time passing by. The ensemble worked well as a collective, they allowed the audience to feel safe in their world by using their professionalism and dedication to the story. They left almost no room for the audience to dwell, capturing their attention with intricacies and a fantastic bold presence.
Matthew Bourne’s production brings a breath of fresh air into a well overworked piece of theatre. Bourne’s vision sets a dark and eerie tragedy bursting at the seams with lustful passion. This production sends a non confirmative message about the powers that are love and lust and the expectations and restrictions that society builds around them. The score created by Terry Daviesfelt absolutely fresh, the score aided the pacing of the storytelling with some really breathtakingly beautiful delicate moments and to emphasise the danger and darkness that the production explores.
The set was astounding, although it’s appearance had somewhat of a clean and simple elegance it’s multifaceted capabilities speaks to the complexity and the depth of thought that went into creating such a wonderful world on stage. This set and the dancers’ use of the set transported us to different worlds within the performance. The reflective titles had such a clinical feel but created wonderful moments of mirror-like reflection, especially during child’s play like moments between Romeo and Juliet. The lighting design also allowed for shadow work using these tiles which was incredibly striking. The lighting was beautifully designed heightening the emotional drive of the performance. The use of torches added such a youthful element when shone on the young lovers faces but also added a distinctly secretive, sneaky atmosphere highlighting an ever watching eye.
This production is a fresh take on the classic we love Romeo and Juliet. The production is set in the clinical Verona Institute creating an even colder feel to the tragic tale. The production explores love and lust even including some disgustingly displayed homophobia and harassment. The mental health aspect may be a sore spot for some in its depiction, however, it’s not intended to be exactly true to life. With any Bourne production we can expect to be asked to think outside of the box and take a look at the bigger picture. A truly incredible production.
Romeo + Juliet is being performed at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow until the 30th of September get your tickets here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/matthew-bournes-romeo-and-juliet/kings-theatre-glasgow/
📸JOHAN PERSSON
Theatre Scotland 
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