Matthew Bourne’s reimagined rendition of the esteemed Shakespeare tale, Romeo and Juliet was aesthetically arresting, ambiguous and alluring. Shakespeare is applauded on his ability to manipulate language to tell a story, whereas this performance completely abandons language as a medium of expression. Contemporary dance embodies this narrative with the accompaniment of Prokofiev’s renowned ballet scores, which certainly did not disappoint.
A loss of language allowed for the audience’s interpretation to remain highly ambiguous. However, vivid depictions of modern societal issues cleverly intertwined within the original plot line were highly powerful. These issues are particularly prevalent amongst young people, and as a young person myself, I was able to connect with the characters in a much more complex way. It is no longer just about the generic forbidden love story between two heterosexual people, it is diversified — namely the inclusion of race, sexuality, and gender — while alluding to various current and pressing issues such as mental health, abuse, homophobia, bigotry, and knife crime.
Particularly captivating was Dance Captain Danny Reubens’ depiction of Tybalt and his disapproval of Mercutio and Balthazar’s homosexual relationship. There is a moment where he catches the two of them during a sexual encounter where he holds their heads like puppets and torments them by forcing them to kiss in front of everyone. This is all the more devastating when he shoots Mercutio to Balthazar’s ultimate despair. Jackson Fisch as Balthazar compellingly illuminates his anguish through his facial performance alone.
Alongside Danny Reuben, Monique Jonas as Juliet commanded my attention throughout the show, most notably in the closing scene when herself and Romeo die. Tybalt, who was strangled earlier on, made an unforgettable reappearance moments before Juliet stabs Romeo. Before I was able to process the unexpected entrance of Tybalt, Juliet had even more perplexingly stabbed her own lover. Monique Jonas seamlessly embodies internalised suffering that was so engrossing, the story did not need any verbal clarification.
From the beginning, Tybalt vividly establishes an abusive relationship between himself and Juliet that clearly traumatises her to the point that he continues to torment her after his death. This twist on the original ending of the classic tale, I believe, reverses the heteronormative narrative, which makes it so refreshing and relatable as a young student. What made it that much more extraordinary, was the sheer number of thought-provoking moments without any spoken word.
A truly unique rendition of Romeo and Juliet that all should go and see!
Rating: ★★★★★
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo + Juliet is playing at the Sheffield Lyceum until October 7th, before continuing on its U.K. Tour. Tickets are available at https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/matthew-bournes-romeo-juliet
