Dear reader, this March, the West End waves goodbye to the much-loved, highly acclaimed musical, that undoubtedly proved to be larger than life during its extensive run in London; & Juliet.
& Juliet premiered at the Shaftesbury Theatre, in the West End, on November 2nd 2019- with an unfortunate suspension in March 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this disruptive postponement, the company rapidly rose to the challenge: recuperating, and returning to the stage in September 2020- 6 months later!
The hit musical poses one vital question- causing numerous unprecedented happenings within an adapted plot- subsequently resulting in an entirely alternate ending to the classic Shakespearian play; ‘What if Juliet didn’t kill herself?’. This seemingly straightforward question, in actuality, unravels a modern narrative: a somewhat unorthodox idea blossoms the reconstruction of the conventional occurrences outlined within the traditional tragedy. The original tale is manipulated by Shakespeare’s infamous, headstrong wife; Anne Hathaway, who- alongside Shakespeare- dictates new developments within the plot, in an increasingly upbeat fashion… The musical’s director, Luke Shepard perfectly encapsulates this through detailing how, “At the heart of & Juliet is the belief that the show is both a celebration of theatrical and pop culture in equal measure”. Effectively illustrating how the musical is an apparent fusion of both old and new: paying homage to the traditional aspects of Shakespearian theatre, and writing, whilst simultaneously introducing newly cultivated ideas, and current trends. Moreover, this progressive concept has greatly allowed audiences to share intimate interactions with these beloved, quintessential characters in a highly contemporary atmosphere, thus, modernizing Shakespeare’s own classical depiction- whilst remaining complementary to the original essence of these roles.
This musical portrays a new perspective of Juliet- arguably projecting a reflection of Anne Hathaway’s persona, into the character; as we begin to perceive Juliet as her own individual, aside from that of Romeo. Through this, Juliet establishes herself as an independent, self-sufficient woman- proving that she is no longer reliant on her male counterparts for success. We observe her journey, as she stumbles through the many obstacles of life, and thrives as she rediscovers herself- in the absence of the patriarchy, in her own exploration of the world for the very first time. The creators of the show describe this new Juliet as the, “perfect leading lady”, as we collectively venture through Juliet’s previously wasted potential- which she was once denied the opportunity to experience due to the cruel dealings of fate, love, and- well- Shakespeare! Yet, Anne Hathaway prevents this fatal mistake in this retelling, by permitting Juliet to rewrite her own destiny, and undo her prophesized future depicted in the stars.
This musical was particularly striking to me, due to its nature as a ‘Jukebox musical’; meaning the show features pre-existing accompaniment, that is merely repurposed to conform to the musical style of the piece. This featured music is co-written by Max Martin, and is essentially a collage of his greatest works structured into that of a musical soundtrack!
Additionally, the intricate costume of this work, designed by Paloma Young, is nothing short of breathtaking. Much like the overall approach to the show, the costume showcases Shakespeare with a twist! Young has expressed that the design, “strives to represent an intersection of historical renaissance costume, high-fashion, whimsy and contemporary street culture”. This evidently causes a grand explosion of vibrancy that is greatly visually appealing to the audience, and complementary to the “punky” Elizabethan set design, created by Soutra Gilmour.
The cast itself bursts with magic- and talent- too! The leading lady of this show is none other than Miriam-Teak Lee; winning the Olivier Award, WhatsOnStage Award, and Black British Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical, for this role! Lee is an absolute delight to watch, and brings an untamable energy to the stage- which is positively infectious to all. Lee’s love for this character is explicitly clear through her portrayal- as at times it becomes wildly difficult to distinguish Lee, herself, from Juliet’s character! Alongside Teak, the musical features both Oliver Tompsett, and Cassidy Janson; both of whom are powerhouses of performers, and share amazing chemistry.
Whilst currently away from the West End, a tour is scheduled to begin… For further updates on the future of this show visit the official website: https://www.andjulietthemusical.co.uk/
