Skip to main content

Review of Matthew Bourne's Romeo + Juliet at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

Despite now having seen a few dance shows encompassing many different styles, I had yet to see one developed by Sir Matthew Bourne, a controversial player in his time, but as the relatively recent knighthood suggests, now very much embraced by the establishment. So, does Romeo + Juliet live up to his name, that is the question?

So, first, this might normally be where I give you a brief outline of the story, but, for one, most have a general understanding of the love disaster of William Shakespeare's play already, and two, as it turns out from the Bourne production, a huge amount of what you might be familiar with has gone or been dramatically changed anyway. There is shocking complicity in murders, there are different moments of murder and gone are the warring factions of the Montagues and Capulets. Characters themselves feel very different at times also, to such an extent that even knowing the play doesn't always make it clear who is who at times.

So, if all that sounds very negative, perhaps it is meant to be. However, that is just the issue with this production not being Romeo + Juliet as we know it, and if that is a problem, maybe you might not like this production.

If however, you are looking for a surprising take on the old story; stunning choreography performed by an exceptional group of dances across the board; presented on a set of total shiny splendour from designer Lez Brotherston and young associate Elin Steel; and to the sound of the beautiful work of Brett Morris and his musicians, you are in luck as Romeo + Juliet is all that.

While being presented totally as a finished piece, Romeo + Juliet is also a work in development and as it tours across the country, with two different casts, it is constantly being developed, the show last week, isn't the show it is this week. It's a fascinating and unique development process, which Bourne is probably one of the few that would be bold enough to try.

This doesn't make this show unfinished though, it is very ready for the stage, with leads Paris Fitzpatrick as Romeo and Cordelia Braithwaite as Juliet, and the rest of the performers presenting a stunning piece of work. This whole production brims with energy throughout from the dynamic opening, with reworked and reordered Prokofiev, maybe sounding a little more rugged that you might have heard before.

The setting of a futuristic Verona Insitute works well, and the set complete with shadows and reflections of the dancers, upon the tiles looking like pixel versions of the performers, giving the piece a suitably clinical look.

As well as two brilliant performances from the leads, other highlights include the wonderful traumatic piece performed by Hannah Mason as Frenchie and a wonderful comic turn from Daisy May Kemp as the Rev. Bernadette Laurence. Elsewhere, Dan Wright's immensely strong and towering Tybalt is another highlight.

There are six brilliant local performers also, as is the twist with Bourne's New Adventures strand, these are all deserving of a namecheck, so congratulations Karishma Young, Alanah Corbridge, Elsie Ward, Jamie Blackadder, Edwin Cheng and Matthew Brion. Sterling work!

So, Matthew Bourne's Romeo + Juliet is a treat, no question. The dancing and choreography are superb and the dancers are stunning, and it looks tremendously good as well. The plot is extremely loose in it's telling of the original, and you perhaps never get the full emotion you might want from the telling itself. However, I doubt that anyone truly will go away disappointed from this lovely evening of contemporary dance.

Captivating dance from a company of exceptional dancers, but tells a very different version of the classic story.
⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Wednesday 29th May 2019 at the Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton.
Richard III is at Royal & Derngate until Saturday 1st June 2019. 

For further details about the Royal & Derngate see their website at http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Photos: Johan Persson

Popular posts from this blog

Review of National Theatre Connections 2017 (16 Shows) at Royal & Derngate (Royal & Underground), Northampton

Alongside the University of Northampton BA Actors Flash Festival, the Connections festival at Royal & Derngate is now my joint favourite week of theatre each year. This is my fourth year at the festival and each time I have tried my very best (and succeeded) in seeing more and more of those on offer (four in 2014, ten in 2015 and twelve last year). This year I cracked sixteen shows, including the most interesting, a chance to see two of the plays by three different groups. I was able to see nine of this year's ten plays (a single nagging one, Musical Differences by Robin French was missing from the R&D line-up), and most I either enjoyed or finally understood their merits or reasons for inclusion. The writing of sixteen reviews is a little bit of an daunting prospect, however, I will do my best to review each of the plays and those I saw more than once, and pick around the comparisons. Extremism by Anders Lustgarten Performed by Bedford College Extremism was perfo...

Review of Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders - The Redemption of Thomas Shelby at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

The Rambert Dance Company is the oldest such company in Britain having first performed in 1926. However, despite this, this was my first encounter with the group in my ten years of theatre-going. Coupled with this, it was also my first encounter with Peaky Blinders , having never seen the show, and only knowing a few vague things about it. My companion for the evening however was very familiar with the show, allowing some background behind the show. It turns out though,  Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders - The Redemption of Thomas Shelby needs a little more than a good bit of knowledge of the show, as despite this production having incredible style, there struggles to be a cohesive structure to the show and the storytelling. Much more than other dance shows as well. The first act does a whistle-stop tour of the first five seasons and while it is a feast on the eye, and on the ear, it gets extremely confusing at times. The second act is freestyle and drifts away from the stories tol...

Review of Lord Of The Dance at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

The stage show Lord of the Dance possibly needs little introduction to most people, as it has become a legend and now, in this touring version, subtitled rather immodestly, 25 Years of Standing Ovations, it reaches a landmark anniversary. Those that do not know of the show would probably well know its spiritual fathers Michael Flatley, and even more likely Riverdance , from which Lord of the Dance sprung with a proper spring in its step. During the interval of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, Riverdance hit the world by storm as Michael Flatley and his troop of dancers possibly presented the most famous part of Eurovision ever, certainly of the non-singing variety at least. Here, this touring show brings that same style Flatley created from traditional Irish dancing across the country once again and it is truly something special to see. The concept of the show is simply a battle between good and evil told through dance, and some captivating and stunning songs performed by Celyn Cartw...