This West End rewrites and remixes what has come before. ‘& Juliet’ imagines what would have happened if Juliet hadn’t killed herself after Romeo’s death; what if she just moved on from her days-old romance with that Montague boy? Told on stage by Anne Hathaway (Cassidy Janson); to Shakespeare’s (Oliver Tompsett) horror, we follow Juliet (Miriam-Teak Lee) as she flees her parents with May (Joe Foster), Nurse (Malinda Paris) and Anne herself as the fictitious April across Europe and into the arms of future lovers. However, with Shakespeare hating this all-female, drama-less turn of events, re-writes Romeo (Tom Francis) into the story to go after his wife. With love triangles, betrayal and heartache, we see what would have happened if things had turned out differently and whether Juliet really has “one less problem without ya”.
The story of ‘& Juliet’ is a captivating tale of one that’s all too famous to the world yet thrown into a whole new light. With a stunning range of talents and voices both in main roles and the ensemble, its mix of comedic storytelling and powerful themes bring audiences on a journey of empowerment and love, in a way that’s sure to get tears streaming. May’s character is particularly powerful; as an individual questioning their gender, they portray a point of view rarely seen in storytelling, as someone who isn’t sure of who or what they are and how this can affect everyday life.
The soundtrack of this musical is largely remixes of pop tracks, featuring pieces like ‘I Want it That Way’ as Shakespeare and Anne argue over the story’s progression, ‘Domino’ for our gang fleeing Juliet’s parents and ‘Roar’ as Juliet comes to accept her place in the story and who she is meant to be – herself! With the musical’s soundtrack being so familiar from the outset, it’s very difficult not to join in!
‘& Juliet’ is a heartfelt tribute to a classic story, with powerful, modern twists throughout making it a truly unique musical. The sets, music, choreography, characters and story all interweave perfectly with one another, leaving you wanting more the second the final curtain drops and opening the door for more reimagined classics and new approaches.
Rating: ★★★★☆
The U.K. tour of ‘& Juliet’ is set to be announced soon.
