Romeo & Juliet at the Duke of York's Theatre
- AnxiousTheatregoer
- Jun 16, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Dark, gritty and moving yet somehow possessing a light-hearted comedic side throughout. Phenomenal show showcasing the common characteristics of a Jamie Llyod production without losing the feeling of a true Shakespeare's writing.
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*
My Review:
This show most certainly builds up anticipation from the moment that you enter the auditorium, with thematic music echoing throughout the auditorium and theatre setting the tone for the show that you are about to witness. The foyer is fairly small, and with the merchandise stall being in the left corner, it can get crowded fairly quickly, the rest of the theatre appears to be just as small, so that is something to be aware of if crowds are overwhelming. I arrived at the theatre at about 2 pm for the show to start at 2:30 pm and had no trouble getting in and to my seat in good time before the show started. The show does start with a bright flash of light, which definitely made me and the person I attended with jump. Employing a bare stage, which is common in Jamie Lloyd productions, as this was also the case in Sunset Boulevard, causes all focus to be on the actors and the screen when it is in use, which is quite frequently during this production. The screen was too bright for me on the second row as it provided a stark contrast to the darker staging used in all other aspects of this production. When the screen was raised I found myself watching the action underneath instead due to the brightness and the uncomfortable nature of having to look up further to see the screen, however having sat much higher in Sunset Boulevard I can say that this screen would be beneficial for people not as close to the stage to be able to see detailed expressions of the actors during key moments of the show. The show uses the original Shakespeare script, so I found myself having to pay attention throughout to understand the dialogue and the whispering of some dialogue meant that I missed moments due to an inability to hear what was being said clearly.
Tom Holland plays Romeo, one of the title roles, and was the drawing factor for a good portion of the audience, however, he truly shines in this role showing the many sides of Romeo from the longing lover to the boisterous friend of Benvolio and Mercutio portrayed by Nima Taleghani and Joshua-Alexander Williams respectively. Tom Holland also showcases the desperation of Romeo following the consequences of his loyalty and honour-driven actions at the end of Act 1. Francesca Amewudah-Rivers plays the other title role of Juliet and is truly captivating from the first moment we see her on stage. Her humorous, strong-willed and devoted Juliet is a joy to watch grow and flourish on the stage. I cannot wait to see what Francesca Amewudah-Rivers does next, as with her talent I am sure she has a bright future ahead of her. Freema Agyeman as the Nurse really stole the show for me and any scene that she was in quickly became my favourite as her beautiful blend of the timeless nature of Shakespeare intermingled with modern flair throughout and employing the use of perfect comedic timing made the Nurse and layered and intriguing character that you cannot help but be captivated by. Michael Balogun is exquisite as the Friar and the impact of his presence after the blackout in the final moments of the show is something that will stay with me as he conveyed so much through such subtle actions showing the sheer nature of his talent. The Friar is a key character throughout providing the fuel for many of the turning points of the show and Michael Balogun most certainly lives up to the demands of this role. Tomiwa Edun is commanding and refreshing as Capulet, providing a more lively and comedic side to this often single-levelled character. He truly steals the show during the Capulet Ball and during interactions with Paris portrayed by Daniel Quinn-Toye, due to his suggestive nature characterised by both facial and vocal methods that constantly drew my attention back to his Capulet. Daniel Quinn-Toye as Paris was a pleasure to watch as he perfectly captured the almost boyish hope of Paris to be with Juliet, especially when he finds out that Capulet will secure their match, and this was once again an enjoyable and refreshing take on a timeless character. Mia Jerome portrays Montague, who whilst not seen frequently during the show, was a joy to watch during her scenes. Ray Sesay is taunting and bolshy as Tybalt, which is the perfect characterisation as it provides additional levels to his scenes and especially makes the final scene of Act 1 understandable as his taunting further stokes the already burning fire of revenge that Romeo feels. Nima Taleghani portrays Benvolio as providing a good friend to Romeo and this character brilliantly plays off of Romeo's comments and actions to further convey the emotions of the moment to the audience and acts as a pivotal character in one of the final turning points of the show. Nima Taleghani brilliantly fulfils the requirements of a role such as Benvolio. Joshua-Alexander Williams is perfect casting as Mercutio, his dancing introduction at the Capulet ball felt very reminiscent of the film and this brilliant energy is kept up by Joshua-Alexander Williams for the entirety of his performance. His acting at the end of Act 1 is powerful and heartbreaking, just as is required by this scene, I cannot picture a more perfect Mercutio after watching his rendition. Harriet Bunton and Koby Mortimer act as the Camera Operators, which is crucial in this production of Romeo & Juliet, and their camera provides the entire audience with the ability to see the detailed expressions of actors during scenes, which is especially beneficial during pivotal moments where more is said by expressions than dialogue.
Content Warnings:
The theatre has warnings on display which are as follows:
This production includes:
Flashing Lights, Smoke and Haze Effects
Loud Sounds and Music
Some scenes include: Physical Aggression, Violence, Blood and References to Depression, Anxiety and Suicide
The programme for this production includes the phone numbers for various crisis and helplines as well as the links to websites that provide information regarding mental health services. This is amazing to see as not many theatres will provide this information in their programmes. The warnings for this show are accurate and I would advise following what they state about the contents of the show.
There are some moments of the show that I feel should be explored a little bit more in-depth:
The inclusion of blood in the show is quite a lot of characters do end up covered
There are blackouts at the end of Act 1 and Act 2 which can be stressful as there is uncertainty as to what will happen and their abrupt start and ending further adds to the tense feeling of these moments. As someone who struggled with the Oklahoma blackouts, these were not pleasant but the shorter time of these blackouts made them bearable and far less stressful for me.
The screen and flashing lights are fairly bright and were uncomfortable for me at moments during the show.
Due to the nature of Romeo & Juliet, there are references to suicide, anxiety and depression throughout and the portrayal of these could make them upsetting for some audience members.
Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope this review has proved interesting and helpful for you :)
- AnxiousTheatregoer
