An explosion of dancing disco bodies on the stage introduces us to this modern take on Romeo and Juliet. Techno music and swirling dry ice set the scene for a story which has profound modern resonances. There is no doubt from the off that the Young Company of Sadler’s Wells is taking this Shakespearean love story in a new direction.
The story is well-known enough – a young couple of star-crossed lovers fall in love in opposition to their kin. In spite of this, they marry secretly, but their plan to escape goes tragically wrong. With a well-placed ethnically diverse case, the play hits the spot for the current day audience. The setting is East London and the troubled youths of the feuding families fight with knives and machetes rather than swords. After all, themes of gang violence, of fickle favours in love and youth suicide are very much part of contemporary life in today’s East London. The apothecary who sells Romeo the fatal draught is a seedy drug dealer of the type not a million miles from this performance in Stratford.
This production is a collaboration between Stratford East and Sadler’s Wells where professionals are supported by young artists and performers from the local community. The result is a spirited presentation of original lines, in a somewhat reduced version of the play, with dancing and street scenes. The backdrop is a line of corrugated shop fronts behind which is revealed the taco bar and the drinks bar run by each family in a practical device for scene changes.
The dancing is the best parts of this production. All the dancers are exemplary, full of vigour and energy. The actors playing Romeo and Juliet are shadowed by a couple of dancers from the Sadler’s Wells young company. Praeploy Pam Tomuan dancing Juliet gives a graceful, expressive performance, supported by Louis Donovan’s Romeo. Their dancing enhances the post-wedding love scene to another level, giving it an intimacy we do not usually see from the play alone. The choice of tender music is spot on, as they dance to Bob Marley’s Turn You Lights Down Low’ lyrics,‘I wanna give you some good lovin’.’ This was the highlight of the night.
Joy Adeogun stands out for a mention bringing a more cheeky version of Juliet’s nurse. The graveyard scene was a hit when we see a group of zombie-like ghouls in a spooky dance as Juliet lies in her coffin and Romeo breaks into her tomb.
In all, the project is a commendable effort involving people from Stratford East’s Young Company, the local community, Sadler’s Wells and professional performers. It makes for a great introduction to Shakespeare for younger viewers.
Cast: Dhru Bhudia, Sharika Paulas, Joy Adeogun and others from Stratford East’s Young Company, the local community, Sadler’s Wells and professional performers.
Dancers: Praeploy Pam Tomuan, Louis Donovan and others from the Young Dance Company.
Writer: Shakespeare
Adapted by Kwame Owusu
Co-directors: Emily Ling Williams, Malik Nashad Sharpe
Choreographer: Malik Nashad Sharpe
Performance Dates 7-9th August 2025
Running Time: 90 mins, no interval.