Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet

Review by: Paul Towers, 17/05/19

Romeo and Juliet by Matthew  Bourne after William Shakespeare

A New Adventures production

Curve 13 – 18 May 2019

“spectacularly, energetic and innovative”

The world premier of any work is something to be proud of. When it is a new Matthew Bourne ballet and is at Curve then Leicester can justifiably preen itself and crow from the rooftops.

We all know the rough story of Shakespeare’s most popular play in his lifetime. Boy meets girl, warring families refuse to let the lovers be together, lovers die together. In these times of religious tensions the story resonates even more than usual.

Bourne has reimagined and relocated the story to Verona Institute, a place where boys and girls are segregated, kept apart by sadistic guards led by Tybalt.

The set is typically spectacular, a curved wall of white tiles with prison gates in it and a balcony running up both sides. High above the sterile main room is a huge stained glass roof which lowers at appropriate times in the story.

Prokofiev’s atmospheric score is based around what we TV addicts will recognise as The Apprentice theme and reflects the emotional turmoil that thwarted lovers feel.

A hugely talented young cast are led by Paris Fitzpatrick as Romeo and Cordelia Braithwaite as Juliet. The main villain of the piece, Tybalt, is danced malevolently by Dan Wright. As well as the main New Adventures cast of 19 there are also 6 Leicester Young Company cast members. Each stop on the tour will have similar local new artistes who will have been trained and coached by New Adventures for the last year in order to appear in this new ballet.

There is a live orchestra of 19 at every performance which adds depth to the sound of this spectacularly, energetic and innovative ballet.

The entire run at Curve sold out within hours of going on sale so there are no tickets for tomorrow’s final two performances. Your only hope is to call the box office and pray for returns. But don’t hold your breath. If you are not lucky then look at booking at Northampton from 28^th May.

Curve – www.curveonline.co.uk
First published on Western Gazette