Romeo and Juliet is known to be one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. Written early in his career it has stood the test of time and is still as fresh and contemporary as it was when written. This new Custom/Practice and Newbury Corn Exchange production, gives the audience a new take on the original story. Shakespeare’s text is still used to good effect but there has been added a twist - modern dance choreography is introduced. This results in a thoroughly enjoyable mixture of old and new, together as if they were made for each other.

Romeo and Juliet is the story of two young gentlefolk who fall in love when they meet at a masque ball. They marry in secret, but cannot reveal their love to anyone as their families; the Montagues and the Capulets are mortal enemies. The young men from each family brawl in the streets whenever they meet, even though the Prince of Verona has forbidden such behaviour. These young men do not heed the Prince’s wishes; and continue to fight in the streets; this unfortunately leads to one of the young men dying during such violence.

This death sets off a chain reaction; Romeo is to be banished for murdering Tybalt and therefore cannot be with his true love Juliet. The Friar, who married the young couple, tries to help them so the newlyweds can be together; but this ends in tragedy. The Friars best intentions backfire and when Romeo finds Juliet in the sepulchre he believes she is dead. She is only asleep from a strong sleeping draft given by the Friar, but on seeing Juliet lying there Romeo cannot cope with his grief and kills himself with poison. When Juliet awakes from her sleep to find Romeo dead she cannot bear to live life without him, she kills herself by stabbing herself in the heart. In the final tragic scene, the families of the young lovers find their children dead and in their grief decide to be enemies no more.

This play is known as a tragedy, and I am sure most of the audience expected a tragedy. Some did leave with a tear in their eye due the sadness of the final scene. Surprisingly the first act had large amounts of well timed comedy; causing the audience to smile and laugh. This comedy, I believe, was not expected but was enjoyed. Shakespeare used comedy and tragedy together to build up the tension in Romeo and Juliet, a technique he used in many of his plays.

The production used this comedy to great effect; Michelle Cornelius’s nurse and Sam Patrick’s servant were especially funny. Their clear dialogue and rather crude humour had the audience laughing. These well chosen actors know how to manipulate a well written scene.

One of the most visual parts of the play was the thrilling fight scenes. The actors dance and weave in and out of each other with skill and precision; they dance and fight in slow motion giving the action a surreal quality. The use of special lighting enhanced these scenes, in semi-darkness the actors move in slow motion, then when the whole stage is lit they sped up and clash and dance around each other as only fit, young dancers can.

The theme of the costumes fitted in with the choreography. The flowing dresses of the female characters, gives sensuality to their movements. The dancing was contemporary and well executed, with costumes matching this modern theme. The set, however, was not contemporary or modern but in keeping with many other Shakespeare plays I have seen. The balconies were given prominence, and rightly so.

The balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet is the most famous and Juliet’s speech was beautifully spoken by Remmie Milner, who brought a slender, beauty to the character. Coupled together with Arun Blair-Mangat’s handsome Romeo, these two young people seemed to have an innocent quality to them that brought out the naiveté of the characters.

The multi racial cast challenges the out dated view that Shakespeare is only for an educated few who can understand the dialogue, they brought diversity to the New Wolsey stage with great effect. The mixture of the audience, including many young people, proves Shakespeare is as good today as it has always been, and there are still many young actors and actresses who want to have the chance to tackle the Bard in all his glory. In this society of multimedia and instant gratification it is still a luxury to sit and enjoy a well executed play and I would recommend it to anyone.

Review by Wendy Alexander, undergraduate at University Campus Suffolk

My last visit to the Wolsey was February this year, and I must say I have really missed their productions this summer, but it was not through lack of interest, just commitment to other activities.

Romeo and Juliet has to be the favourite, most loved and known of the Shakespearean tragedies. This production is presented by Custom/Practice and Newbury Corn Exchange. My friend and I arrived Monday evening for the first of four performances, and received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from Jenny, the theatre’s press and marketing officer. The foyer was bustling with theatre goers of all ages, and we managed to get a quick coffee before heading into the auditorium. However many times I visit the Wolsey I always have a feeling of warmth, because it has a cosy, intimate feel, just the right size with a circle and no stalls.

7.45pm and curtains up, well not physically, as the set was clearly visible though sparse. The production opens with urban, contemporary dancing just to liven everybody up and set the mood. I would like to compliment choreographer Kenrick Sandy on a great dance display. We were then taken straight into the action with a well played out street fighting scene between the warring Capulets and Montagues. The tale progresses from there with clear Shakespearean dialogue from a professional cast. The protagonists Romeo and Juliet were played with verve and enthusiasm by Arun Blair-Mangat as Romeo and Remmie Milner as Juliet. It was Juliet’s nurse who seemed to gain the most laughs with highly amusing rhetoric, and she clearly had a ‘thing’ for Romeo herself. I don’t need to go through all the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the tale in detail for I am sure a good majority of the ticket buyers already know the plot.

I was truly engaged in the play all the way through and to be honest found the intermission an interruption. The build up and tragic ending was moving and emotive, but strangely it was the cast’s finale, another lively dance routine displaying pure talent, which reduced me to tears at the very end. Why is it the lights go on too quickly when your trying to dry yours eyes?

Trudy Ellis, undergraduate at University Campus Suffolk