Romeo and Juliet

 

When: 27th June 2024 (Matinee)

Where: Duke of York's Theatre, London

Writer: William Shakespeare

Director: Jamie Lloyd 

This production has been highly anticipated due to the casting of Tom Holland, selling out within hours of the tickets going on sale. If I'm being honest unlike the majority of the audience present I was not there to see Tom Holland, in fact it almost put me off going. However, having enjoyed two previous productions by Jamie Lloyd, and my sister wanting to go anyway I thought I would be annoyed if I missed out. Whilst I don't think I would have missed out by not seeing this production it was interesting and I am glad I got to see it. 

I have seen two productions previously by Jamie Lloyd (The Seagull and The Effect) both of which I thought were brilliant. I have always been a fan of the use of film and technology within theatre, since seeing Ivo Van Hove's production of All About Eve in 2019, but in this most recent production I fear Lloyd was too focused on innovation that the heart of the story feels lost. Some of the technology used was impressive, from the high definition of the screen to the carefully choreographed cinematography. The way in which characters were able to fade in and out of the background of the screen without leaving stage was intriguing to watch. Yet at times it felt as though we could have just been in a cinema, the screen became so big and the filming on stage added very little to the story, that we were basically just watching a film. In other moments, particularly much of the second half, the lack of anything at all completely lost my attention and felt more like a script read. It felt as if the story being told came second to the technical production of the piece and the spectacle being created. 

Jamie Lloyds productions for me have always drawn a fine line between just keeping you on your toe, fully engaged, and boredom. This production starts with a sharp, moody atmosphere which starts as soon as you enter the auditorium using sound scaping and music, but it becomes a bit monotonous after a while and the variation in emotion or tension is never enough to give the audience a break or to make it feel worthwhile. This was particularly felt in the second half, after slowly losing interest in the four performers speaking their lines into microphones I was relying on the final well known dramatic death scene to save it and make it worthwhile, it didn't. Instead this final death again takes place with the actors simply speaking the lines sat next to each other on stage. This scene reflects the other iconic scene of the play the balcony scene, which also controversially takes place with both actors sat next to each other. I really didn't mind the fact that it didn't take place on a balcony, I actually admire the decision not to, but by having the characters next to each other the scene felt lacking. It lost the intrigue, the excitement of sneaking onto someone's balcony, overhearing conversation, the element of risk that makes the balcony scene so memorable. I do think the way in which this meeting and their deaths reflected each other captured another level of the foreshadowing so present already within the play, but I still think both these scenes required more to make the impact they deserve in the story and the surrounding mass of technology. 

Multiple scenes of the play take place on screen, with the filming outside of the auditorium, for instance the roof of the theatre becomes Mantua. Whilst in theory this is an exciting idea, Romeo is physically banished from the theatre and returns through a fire exit at the back of the stage, with the amount of filming used it again made it feel even more like a cinema and I don't think it held the amount of meaning that it could have. When this first happened with the party happening in the bar of the theatre broadcast into the auditorium I was captivated by it. I particularly remember the look given to the camera by Tybalt aimed towards Romeo who was in the room with us, something that theatre does not capture well is the small glances they're hard to see from a distance, but this use of hybrid film and theatre allowed the space for it. There is so much I could say about the technology in this play it's abundant and some of it is captivating, while other parts fall flat. Its an experimentation that for me fails to hold attention, but perhaps by having seen this style of work before it simply wasn't different enough to excite me. 

The one thing that I will add is that the performances by the actors are brilliant. At first I wasn't impressed by Tom Holland for the first few scenes it felt as though he couldn't quite reach the sharpness of the production and the other performers, but as he settled into it that became his character. He managed to capture the teenage overly emotional, wishy-washy Romeo that is rarely seen. Although his performance was blown out of the water by that of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers whose performance of Juliet was spectacular. She portrayed a Juliet that was youthful, sure of herself, and yet so naïve, she added depth and interest to what I would argue is one of Shakespeare's least interesting characters. As always my favourite character was the nurse who once again provides some well needed comedy. Freema Agyeman's nurse was one of the highlights of the production, she gives us a free spoken, somewhat nosey and at time flirtatious nurse. In other productions I have often seen the character portrayed as a much older woman but the youthfulness of the lines and her cheekiness makes this younger version seem perfect, and works so well. 

This play has been an interesting one for me, I don't think it's technically bad and the other two people in my group thoroughly enjoyed it, but it just didn't hit the mark. With it being yet another production of Romeo and Juliet I really hoped Jamie Lloyd would make it worthwhile, but in trying too hard the original play is clouded over. I'm sure for someone who does not regularly visit the theatre or is even a first timer, like I'm sure much of the audience for this play will be, its a fascinating experience and it does show of the development and innovation within our industry. I just feel there's better productions out there that use these techniques to the advantage of the story as opposed to fighting against it.