Critically acclaimed dance company Lost Dog will be performing at York Theatre Royal for the first time with their unique take on a classic story.
Juliet & Romeo – a two-hander starring Emily Terndrup as Juliet and John Kendall as Romeo – will offer audiences at York Theatre Royal a glimpse into the comic, surreal world of creator Ben Duke, who wrote and starred in the original production back in 2018.
Since then the show has been performed over 200 times across the UK, Europe, Canada, China, and New Zealand.
Juliet & Romeo is at York Theatre Royal fromFriday 20 to Saturday 21 November.
In Duke’s version – which combines movement, text, drama, dance and music – it turns out Shakespeare’s young lovers didn’t die in a tragic misunderstanding, they grew up, got married, and moved to Paris.
When we meet them they’re in their 40s and at least one of them is having a mid-life crisis. They have decided to confront their current struggles by putting on a performance…about themselves. Their therapist tells them it’s a terrible idea, but they invite the audience in anyway…
Ben Duke, artistic director of Lost Dog Dance said: “I always hoped Shakespeare’s Juliet would wake up just a few moments earlier than she does; I know she never will but I can’t help hoping for it!
“Baz Lurhman’s film came out in 1996 (30 years ago!) and made a huge impression on me. The idea for the piece came from imagining an alternate version and, in turn, to encourage people to consider the nature of their own relationships. I think we aren’t that honest about relationships and that too many stories focus on how relationships start rather than how they continue.”
Emily Terndrup (Juliet) said: “I have a huge affection for this Juliet; she’s funny, energetic and passionate but she’s also something of a fantasist and struggles with the gap between the life she imagined and the life she’s ended up with. There are aspects of her that would be challenging to live with but I love being her for the time onstage each evening.
“I’ve never been to York so I’m really looking forward to visiting the city and performing at the beautiful Theatre Royal. One of my all-time favourite books – ‘Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell’ by Susanna Clarke which is a magical, alternative version of history set in 19th century England at the time of the Napoleonic Wars – starts in York! So I plan to see a few places mentioned in the book.”
John Kendall (Romeo) said: “I sympathise with Romeo; I think Juliet is probably the driving force behind wanting to try this latest method of understanding the relationship problems we – as Juliet and Romeo – face. Whilst not really being fully convinced Romeo is willing to try and fix the problems they both have, I feel he’s earnest and does want to make things work.
“York is our most northerly venue on this tour so it’s the nearest to home for me. I think I’ll have a small group of friends and family travelling down to watch so that’ll be great! York is a beautiful city; it’ll be the first time I’ve had the opportunity to perform there. I’m very excited about bringing Juliet & Romeo to audiences at the Theatre Royal – 280 years old and counting!”