Review by Russell Blackaller

Romeo and Juliet by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford upon Avon

TOM Piper’s set is minimal, but beautiful – quite simply a huge rusty steel cube, which can be moved around the bare stage, with the action within and above, to represent many places, including a room, a bed and of course a balcony.

Some might find the set drab and lacking in colour, but the costumes won’t come to the rescue, having a rather non-descript quasi-contemporary style and only using various shades of white, grey or black.

Having such a lack-lustre design puts huge pressure on the young group of actors to bring the story to life and capture our imagination.

The cast are placed in a parallel universe, where knives are worn like swords and women fight men – most notably Charlotte Josephines’s psychotic Mercutio.

Everyone seems to have a different accent, placing us… anywhere?

The text is delivered at a fast energetic pace, with some impressive interpretations, including Karen Fishwick’s feisty Scottish Juliet and Bally Gill’s sensitive and engaging Romeo.

But then comes the crucial question as to whether we believed Romeo and Juliet’s love. It didn’t quite hit the spot for me, as I found the passion, and also the violence too restrained or unrealistic.

This is a long way from West Side Story.

However, the predominantly young audience loved the predominantly young cast and thankfully my evening was saved by Ishia Bennison’s delivery of Nurse, who’s interpretation, a fusion between Shakespeare and Coronation Street was hilarious, compassionate and intelligent.

This might not be the best Romeo and Juliet you will see, but it is certainly worth the trip to Stratford.

7 out of 10

Romeo and Juliet runs in Stratford until September 21 2018.

Box Office 0844 800 1110