A multi-ethnic troupe of 22 actors and technicians from a company from London called Theatre Studio West, arrived in Malta to present a modernised version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The play, hosted by the Malta Drama Centre will celebrate the European Year for Intercultural Dialogue and has been given the support of the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth and Sport, and the European Union Programmes Agency.
Romeo and Juliet has the status of a fable. As a play it is embedded in our collective unconsciousness. Yet Shakespeare always has something extra up his sleeve. When we think we know him best, he turns round and draws yet another rabbit out of his seemingly bottomless hat. So every production seeks to find something new.
Director Julie Saunders has used a very culturally diverse cast who brought a lot of raw passion and enthusiasm to the production. She explains that “although the play has been interpreted with a modern setting we’ve kept faithful to Shakespeare’s story and even the language we modernised has been kept in Shakespeare’s verse. This version of Romeo and Juliet is performed by an exceptionally talented young cast. It is a play that is by turns delicate and intense, uproariously funny with our Caribbean Nurse, bohemian Friar and lecherous Mr Capulet. It’s heartrendingly sad and has the vitality of youth and the genuine poignancy that I think Shakespeare intended”.
Ryan Russell who plays Romeo says “for a lad from Newcastle to play this, dreamy some might say bit of a wimp of a boy, wasn’t easy”, but when you think of his rebellion, his propensity for violence and as Julie (the director) kept saying “he was obviously a lad on heat”, of course I understood that. Holly Hunter, who plays Juliet adds “the hardest thing I found was making sure everything made sense, even though Julie modernised the language, she kept it all in Shakespearian verse. So there was a natural rhythm to it, that we were encouraged to explore and experiment with, to find our character’s voice.
As the reviews testify, people who come to the show will experience an exhilarating night at the theatre.
The press wrote glowingly that “dynamic stagefighting delivered to a high standard, mixed with breathtaking dance routines and exceptional acting topped off a remarkable achievement by director Julie Saunders”. Lou Toosey from the NCT writes “the entire cast give superb performances. This production promises us something raw and exciting from the offset and it doesn’t disappoint”. The Ealing Times declared “Romeo & Juliet is a triumph.”
Romeo and Juliet will be staged at the open air garden theatre at the Maria Regina Junior Lyceum Complex in Blata l-Bajda (entrance from in front of the PN Headquarters). Booking for tickets (7 Euros) for both shows can be made at the Malta Drama Centre (Tel: 2122-0665), Merlin Library (Tel: 2123-4438) or at the main gate before the performance. The play is also sponsored by Nexos Lighting & Vision and Merlin Library.