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★★★★
Shakespeare is the theme for the next two weeks at the Marlowe Theatre, with Northern Ballet presenting the story about the playwright’s star-crossed lovers until Saturday 12th October and the Bard-inspired pop musical ‘& Juliet’ heading to the venue on Monday 14th. The Leeds-based dance company are touring the UK with their production of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ until the end of the month and this week local Kent audiences get to experience the beauty of classical ballet and dance theatre live on the Canterbury stage.
First impressions
There is something so elegant about ballet productions and Northern Ballet have completely transformed the Marlowe auditorium for their arrival. From the grand red curtain to the vast set representing historic Verona, it is evident that the overall theatrical experience has been considered in the creation of this piece. In some ways you feel as if you have entered an opera house upon taking your seats and this combined with the two intervals, offers a unique regional theatre going experience.
Unrivalled musicality and dynamic choreography
Set to Prokofiev’s varied score, Massimo Moricone’s choreography is utterly mesmerising, perfectly capturing the highs and lows of the narrative. From Romeo (Ryoichi Hirano) and Juliet’s (Amber Lewis) delicate movements to the Montague and Capulet sparring group sequences, the choreography highlights the vast number of themes covered in the rapid love story. Regardless of who is visible, every step is so precise, showcasing the incredible skills of the Northern Ballet dancers.
Storytelling without dialogue
Without spoken word, the material relies on exaggerated facial expressions and physical theatre in bringing to life Shakespeare’s narrative. In places I found the mime and acting a little over-the-top and melodramatic, but I do believe this is somewhat needed to ensure that the storyline is clear. Harriet Marden played the Nurse at last night’s performance and offered a masterclass in comedy without speech. Every time the Nurse was on stage you could not help but laugh at the character’s behaviour and humorous physicality.
Period costume design
Whilst the set design is impressive, in my opinion it is the costume design which is paramount to creating the period setting. The detail in the clothing is exquisite, accurately representing Renaissance Italy and the lifestyle of wealthy families at the time. That being said, in a few places I struggled to identify the clashing families and who was on which side, which could be addressed through slightly more distinguishable costumes for the Montagues and the Capulets. With so many central performers in certain scenes, it can be a little overwhelming trying to establish who is who.
An eye-catching example of dance theatre
Northern Ballet’s version of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ is packed full of passion and drama, with the choreography rhythmically visualising Prokofiev’s iconic score. I thoroughly enjoyed this fusion of Shakespeare and classical ballet, which through the medium of well executed dance steps transports audiences to fair Verona and the complex world of the conflicting families. You can catch the company in action at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday, with some last remaining tickets available via the theatre’s website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Romeo & Juliet’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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