><R&J

I read this title as More or Less Romeo and Juliet, exactly what it turned out to be!

Take ten young actors, 5F 5M, ask them to explore Shakespeare’s famous play as more than just a three-day love affair between a thirteen year-old girl and a seventeen year-old boy, which results in multiple deaths.

Just how strong is Shakespeare ‘s understanding of human nature and cultural roots? Does it carry over four hundred years? As the final back projection said: ‘Romeo and Juliet both end up dead’.

During their dramatic evisceration of the script every one of this collective portrayed each of the central protagonists; they interpolated contemporary songs into the action; they led us through the story with back projections; they even included the odd sonnet with relevance to the moment. It was an energetic production in modern dress without set other than a few building boxes that could suggest locales. 

The packed opening night audience were with them all the way, but I suspect other audiences with fewer close connections to the players might find this confusing. It should attract aspiring actors, students of Shakespeare (especially Romeo and Juliet), but other theatregoers may leave the theatre nonplussed.

Under the careful guidance of Matilda-Awarded wunderkind Lucas Stibbard, the ensemble, each of whom deserves applause, provokes us while exhibiting a legitimate technique for getting actors to dig deeper into understanding their characters.

Jay McKee

Images: Essie O'Shaugnessy and Steph Stainlay & Company of ><R&J - Photographer: Al Caeiro