Review: & Juliet at Newcastle Theatre Royal
What if Juliet didn’t die at the end of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? That’s the clever jumping-off point for & Juliet, the feel-good pop musical now playing at Newcastle Theatre Royal.
It’s a big, sparkly remix of the classic tragedy - which offers Juliet a second chance. And a banging playlist via the back catalogue of Swedish pop songwriting and producing sensation, Max Martin.
Larger Than Life, I Want It That Way, Baby One More Time, Stronger, I Kissed A Girl, Shape of My Heart, Roar, That’s The Way It Is, As Long As You Love Me… and we’re really only just getting started.
The show opens with Shakespeare (The Wanted’s Jay McGuinness who also has a Strictly Glitterball on his shelf) unveiling his latest work, only to be interrupted by his wife, Anne Hathaway (Lara Denning), who’s had quite enough of tragic heroines. She proposes a rewrite - one where Juliet survives, skips town, and finds out who she really is beyond the balcony and heartbreak.
This setup allows for plenty of laughs and a dash of heart - and Denning is wonderful. Her Anne Hathaway is warm, sharp and funny, with real emotional pull. She not only pushes Juliet’s story forward but takes control of her own, and her musical numbers are knockout moments, including That’s the Way It Is and a duet - I Want It That Way - with McGuinness.
Juliet, played by Gerardine Sacdalan, is all youthful energy and gutsy pop princess defiance. Her vocals soar on numbers like Roar and Stronger as she searches for a new destiny with her guiding nurse, Angelique (Sandra Marvin boasting comedy chops and impressive pipes in equal measure here) and best pal May (Jordan Broatch) who is also searching for their place in the world.
The design is a riot of colour and clever contrasts, blending Tudor ruffs with glitter and neon. The choreography is snappy and the brimming catalogue of pop songs are given new life with context that ranges from hilarious to genuinely moving.
& Juliet is unapologetically big-hearted and brilliantly over-the-top. It’s a celebration of rewriting your own ending — and doing it in style, sequins and all.
The show is at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Saturday (June 7). For tickets, visit the website or call the box office on 0191 232 7010.