Romeo And Juliet: UK Review

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Wed 17 May 2017 - Thu 31 Aug 2017

Shakespeare meets Mods and Rockers, and even a little bit of unseasonal pantomime, in this wonderfully funny and inventive take on the Bard's classic tragic love story. The Oddsocks Theatre Company has embarked on a national tour of its new production, which sees the Capulet and Montague families locked in a bitter feud in Shakespeare's timeless Romeo and Juliet. The play is happily still delivered in the original Shakespearean dialogue, but Oddsocks - as is their innovative style - have chosen a completely different slant, this time setting Romeo and Juliet against the period of the 1960s when the Mods and Rockers clashed in towns and cities across Britain.



Oddsocks pride themselves on their bold approach to theatre, and Romeo and Juliet, which began its UK tour with two nights at the Lichfield Garrick on May 17 and 18, is certainly no exception. Despite the central romantic theme the violence of Romeo and Juliet is well and truly encapsulated in this new production, with the body count gradually building up throughout the play. Fortunately the large number of seemingly primary, as well as, secondary school pupils in the audience appeared to make light of the violent scenes, which included a 'kicking' in the opening minutes, with the possible exception of a fatal stabbing which stopped everyone in their tracks.



Despite the unavoidable violence - it's what Shakespeare wrote after all - this is a very humorous production with plenty of laughs throughout. The panto feel was established from the very start with the audience encouraged to shout and cheer whenever the names of the Montague mods or the rocking Capulets were mentioned. Unfortunately one or two enthusiastic members of the audience took the request too literally, with them shouting out at more serious moments in the play. The final, tragic death bed scene between Romeo and Juliet (I don't think I've given anything away!) was also not as Shakespeare wrote when he originally put quill to parchment.



The six-strong cast are to be commended for their effort and ability in making everything work, even down to playing a variety of musical instruments as well as performing more than character apart from the excellent Matthew Burns and Pippa Lewis as Romeo and Juliet. The rest of the impressive cast is made up of Andy Barrow as Capulet and Tybalt, Alexander Bean as Montague and Mercutio, Rebecca Little, mainly as Nurse, and Gavin Harrison as the guitar playing Paris. Because of the mods and rockers theme there is no shortage of excellent music, from The Jam's 'Down at the Tube Station at Midnight' and Gene Vincent's Be bop a lula' to excellent full band renditions of 'Black Betty' and 'Sweet Child of Mine'.



Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Forthcoming shows

19 May The Y Theatre Leicester 0116 255 7066

6 - 7 June Queen's Hall Arts Centre Hexham 01434 652477
9 June Pavilion at the Park Bedford
13 June Forum Theatre Billingham 01642 552663 Sold Out
14 - 16 June Markeaton Park Craft Village Derby 01332 255800
18 June Thoresby Lawns Newark 01623 822009
20 - 22 June Belgrade Theatre Coventry 024 7655 3055
23 June Chepstow Castle Chepstow 01291 625981
25 June Valentines Mansions Gardens Ilford
29 June Oakengates Theatre Telford 01952 382382

1 July Gawsworth Hall Cheshire 01260 223456
4 July Middleton Park Leeds Free performance No tickets required!
8 July Fillongley Lodge Warwickshire 01455 213335
11 - 12 July RHS Harlow Carr Harrogate 01423 562303
14 July Kirkleatham Museum Redcar 01642 479500
15 July mac arts Birmingham 0121 446 3232
22 July Nottingham Castle Nottingham 0155 807 7900
23 July Whitbourne Hall Worcester 07747 031701
24 July Canary Wharf London Free performance No tickets required!
29 July Mary Arden's Farm Stratford-upon-Avon 01332 258328
31 July - 9 Aug Coronation Park Jersey 01534 700444

11 - 16 August Castle Cornet Guernsey 01481 747280
23 August Brighton Open Air Theatre Brighton
26 August Penlee Park Open Air Theatre Penzance 01726 879500
29 August Victoria Gardens Tewkesbury 01684 295074
31 August St James Garden Liverpool 01332 258328

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!date 17/05/2017 -- 31/08/2017
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