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★★★★★
Shakespeare’s heroine Juliet Capulet is the focus of the pop smash-hit musical ‘& Juliet’, which is currently touring the UK and Ireland following a West End run from 2020 – 2023. Questioning what would have happened if the character hadn’t died at the end of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, David West Read’s book starts at the end of the playwright’s original text, except this time Juliet (Gerardine Sacdalan) has a future and choices ahead of her.
Orchestrated by narrators William Shakespeare (Matt Cardle) and Anne Hathaway (Lara Denning), Anne is looking for a different ending for Juliet, which allows her to forge her own path away from Romeo. It takes on the form of a jukebox musical set to the hits of renowned songwriter Max Martin, who penned tracks for pop artists such as Katy Perry, Britney Spears and more. Rather excitingly, the production is based at the Marlowe Theatre here in Canterbury this week and I had the opportunity to see the show on press night, 18 months after I headed to the Shaftesbury for one of the final performances in the West End.
Pop concert performance style
‘& Juliet’ is a brilliant example of modern musical theatre, feeling more like a music concert in places, thanks to the high energy performances, Jennifer Weber’s cool choreography and the spectacular live band. It is incredibly atmospheric and the utmost attention has been given to the sound quality to make sure that every musical number is exciting and dynamic. Whilst I adored the amplification, there is no denying that it is a loud and intense show musically. If you find gigs and concerts overwhelming, I recommend sitting further back or on a higher floor, where you can still enjoy the ambiance and music, but also benefit from being further away from the stage.
Underlying themes and wider message
What is so wonderful about this musical is the themes of empowerment and inclusive attitudes towards gender and sexuality. The character of May specifically (played by Jordan Broatch) is a non-binary character and the production celebrates this, thoughtfully reflecting on what it means to not identify exclusively as male or female in the writing. It is brilliant to see such positive representation on stage, which will really inspire the next generation of theatregoers.
Outstanding cast performances
It goes without saying that Gerardine Sacdalan is born to play the title role, drawing the audience’s attention from the first notes of ‘…Baby One More Time’. The performer is a triple threat, bringing so much charisma to every scene and leading the company with boundless stage presence. Gerardine is supported by the fantastic comedy duo of Matt Cardle and Lara Denning as Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, who each contribute fun and camaraderie to the “lights up” segments. They are probably my favourite characters in the show; perfectly capturing married life and the banter that comes with it. Lastly a special mention goes to Jordan Broatch who has such a spectacular voice. They light up every musical number that they are a part of with their gorgeous vocal tone.
Modern and colourful visual design
Whilst the source material is set in Verona, Juliet’s post-Romeo adventures see her travel across Europe to a new city. Without giving away any spoilers, Soutra Gilmour’s set design combines historical and contemporary elements, balancing recreating the world of Shakespeare with the present day themes of the writing. I admire how the creative team has not been afraid to be bold in the overall design choices, opting for rich pinks, purple and blue hues in the set pieces, lighting and Paloma Young’s costumes. It really helps introduce audiences to Juliet’s alternative world, complete with colour, twinkling lights and stylish Renaissance-inspired outfits.
A really exciting pop musical
‘& Juliet’ is proof of how you can take some of Shakespeare’s classic work and make a really innovative and exciting new piece of theatre out of it. In theory it shouldn’t work, combining the Bard’s writing and Max Martin’s pop music, but this fusion of unlikely themes makes for an incredibly creative and enjoyable production. It is also a musical that will really appeal to young people, hopefully encouraging a whole new audience into the theatre. ‘& Juliet’ is playing in Canterbury until Saturday 19th October, with the last few tickets available via the theatre’s website. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to catch this brilliant pop musical live on stage!
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘& Juliet’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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