Thrillingly balancing dangerous drama and rapturous romance, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet enthrals once again in this grandly staged, meticulously recreated hallmark production from The Australian Ballet.
New work, new voices, hybrid approaches: How theatre changed in 2021
It has been another complicated year for theatres with venues unable to welcome in-person audiences for more than five months of 2021 and the tail end of the year returning to enforced closure and performance cancellations.
NEWS: Lita Doolan’s show Ain’t No Female Romeo about ‘searching for love beyond social media’ joins the digital Edinburgh Fringe
It wasn’t long ago that My Theatre Mates was chatting to award-winning writer Lita Doolan about one of her plays receiving its world premiere at this year’s Brighton Fringe. Now, she is celebrating the opening of the first ever digital Edinburgh Festival Fringe with the inclusion of her solo show Ain’t No Female Romeo.
NEWS: Theatres gear up for reopening following the 19 July roadmap announcement
Prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that England will move to Step 4 of the Government roadmap on 19 July 2021, meaning that theatres will be able to return to full attendance levels.
‘Pulses with music, energy & intrigue’: ROMEO & JULIET Creation Theatre (Online review)
The unstoppable Creation Theatre has been one of the highlights of digital theatre production during this 14 months of uncertainty, and for their new show they return to the works of William Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet.
NEWS: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre confirms its extended 2021 season
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed its 2021 season, including extended runs of Romeo and Juliet (17 June-24 July), directed by Kimberley Sykes, and Carousel (31 July-25 September), directed by Timothy Sheader.
‘This is contemporary Shakespeare at its finest’: ROMEO & JULIET (National Theatre / Sky Arts)
Jessie Buckley is astonishing as the National Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet makes the jump from stage to screen to extraordinary effect.
NEWS: Romantics Anonymous will be performed & broadcast live from Bristol Old Vic
Wise Children, Bristol Old Vic and Plush Theatricals have announced that Emma Rice’s critically-acclaimed musical adaptation of Romantics Anonymous will be performed at Bristol Old Vic, and broadcast live, direct to audience’s homes nationally and globally.
‘My favourite part of working in casting is meeting fresh, exciting talent’: Sydney Aldridge on the casting process for The Show Must Go Online
I’ve really admired the work of Sydney Aldridge throughout the course of The Show Must Go Online, so who better to talk to about casting and her experiences with this innovative Zoom theatre project?
I feel I personally have to advocate for Shakepeare’s Globe even more strongly
Reading that the Globe may struggle to come back from this current crisis without the help of donations and emergency funding didn’t seem quite real.
From Come From Away to The Antipodes: Top 10 Shows of 2019
Here’s our Top 10 list for 2019 with three musicals – Come From Away, Curve’s West Side Story and the touring production of Amelie dominating the top spots.
‘You’re guaranteed to have a good time’: & JULIET – West End ★★★
& Juliet is a camp classic that’s perfect nostalgia hit for the children of the 90s, and a guaranteed hit for fans of the music – this isn’t the Shakespeare you’ll recognise from your schooldays…
NEWS: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s 2020 season opens with original 101 Dalmatians musical
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced its 2020 season which opens with its first newly commissioned musical, 101 Dalmatians (16 May to 21 June 2020, press night is 27 May), based on Dodie Smith’s iconic story set in the heart of Regent’s Park with book by Zinnie Harris and music and lyrics by Douglas Hodge.
‘Lovingly ludicrous action’: ROMEO & JULIET – Touring
Rubbish Shakespeare Company squeezes the Bard’s tragic romance Romeo & Juliet into a family-friendly hour of farce in this knowingly silly production.
‘Chillingly relevant’: ROMEO & JULIET – Barbican Theatre ★★★★
Romeo & Juliet, with Karen Fishwick and Bally Gill as the leads, arrives at the Barbican as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s London residency. Although written over four centuries ago, this production feels chillingly relevant.
‘Shakespeare done right, freshly minted, funny, accessible’: ROMEO & JULIET – Eastville Park ★★★★
If Shakespeare promised his audience in the prologue of Romeo and Juliet two hours’ traffic of our stage’, Insane Root does one better and knocks out, probably the world’s most famous play, in 100 minutes.
‘You’ve not lived until you’ve seen Juliet swigging a pint at the altar’: SHIT-FACED SHAKESPEARE: ROMEO & JULIET – Leicester Square Theatre ★★★★★
A Romeo and Juliet like no other, made all the more unpredictable with the inclusion of alcohol – you’ve not lived until you’ve seen Juliet swigging a pint at the altar!
NEWS: Full details are revealed on the Bard’s birthday for the pop-up Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre in York
Today, on the birthday of William Shakespeare, full details have been announced for Europe’s first ever pop-up Shakespearean Theatre – Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre – which makes its debut in the historic city of York in June. Preparations are well underway for a ground-breaking ‘Summer of Shakespeare’. Highlights include: Directors Lindsay Posner, Damian Cruden and Juliet Forster to lead two companies …
Have you experienced Opera Undressed? La traviata
I finally managed to secure a ticket for La traviata through Opera Undressed, a scheme run by the English National Opera for productions at the London Coliseum. It’s a great package: the £20 ticket covers a ‘best available’ seat, a pre-show talk, and a free G&T at the aftershow party.
NEWS: RSC reveals details of winter residency at the Barbican with three productions transferring
Later this year, the three Shakespeare productions from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s current Stratford-upon-Avon season this spring will transfer into the Barbican Theatre from October.