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Romeo and Juliet gets the rock'n'roll treatment

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Lincolnshire Echo

With one single desire to make the Bard's plays appealing to children, Shakespeare 4 Kidz (S4K) is back with a new musical mini tour of Romeo and Juliet.

S4K has been introducing millions of young people to the magical world of Shakespeare over the last 15 years with its modern musical adaptations including Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, The Tempest and Hamlet.

The complicated stories and complex text are simplified by the use of modern language linking together the most famous and best-loved lines. And there are catchy songs and dances too.

Romeo and Juliet will also feature many of the popular actors who have played roles before and will be directed by its co-writer and S4K founder Julian Chenery.

Look out for Noel Andrew Harron as zany Mercutio, Sean Luckham as Peter the servant riding his scooter and Antony Stuart-Hicks as a madcap Friar Lawrence.

Also, 22-year-old Olivia Chenery – last year's fairy queen Titania from A Midsummer Night's Dream – as the doomed child bride Juliet.

She says: "The love story which kids most relate to these days is probably the Twilight saga but we want to show them that young people have always had troubled love lives, most certainly always will have, and that Shakespeare's magical writing has influenced the generations of writers who came after him.

"Everyone who's been young and in love can identify with Juliet, who has to cope with the emotions of meeting, falling in love and marrying in just three days.

"The fact that S4K have set the story not in Renaissance Italy but in the rock'n'roll 1950s helps to make the story modern."

But Romeo and Juliet remains a play of strong emotions and powerful messages.

Olivia says: "I absolutely respect Juliet. She's incredibly brave. She is willing to leave her family and stable life and run away with Romeo.

"She takes the potion not really knowing what it will do to her. The ending is so tragic that it always make me feel choked up."

S4K's production highlights the comedy but doesn't shirk from underscoring the ever-topical themes of young love, gang violence and the breakdown of communications between generations. Children as young as eight can enjoy this show.

S4K's Romeo and Juliet at Lincoln Theatre Royal on Friday, January 20, 10.30am and 1.30pm. Tickets: Adults £16.50, children (16 and under) £10, schools £10 with one teacher free for every 10 pupils. Call the box office on 01522 519999 or visit www.lincolntheatreroyal.com