The University of Exeter’s ShakeCo production of Romeo and Juliet was a powerful rendition of the Shakespeare classic. The theatre performance followed incredibly closely to the popular source text of the tragic love tale between a boy and girl born in rival families. It skilfully explored feelings, friendships, and feuds in a re-imagined 1920s landscape. The romance and turmoil are brilliantly embedded within memorable songs and immaculate set design.
The romance and turmoil are brilliantly embedded within memorable songs and immaculate set design.
Upon entry to The Hall – located near to the River Exe – your ears were greeted by live jazz music and strong vocals from Claire Stuart (who donned a stylish flapper dress outfit). Whilst the seats were being filled at the back of the hall, I got the time to take in the gorgeous set; displayed in two tiers, the bottom half of the stage was decked out in 1920s flare. The performance space transformed The Hall into a 1920s speakeasy, meanwhile the staircase led to a sweet girl’s bedroom complete with a bed and vanity. The set design was an appropriate blend of girlhood innocence upstairs and demanding adulthood downstairs.
Speakeasies were previously illicit establishments under the guise of something else to illegally sell alcohol. Now reappropriated for the Romeo and Juliet play, it adopts another purpose than just being a boozer – it represents the forbidden love between the couple. Bars, jazz clubs, and dances always took place around the bar set up. And it was also the stage used for violent outbreaks and confrontations. Every death took place on the lower stage – except for that of Juliet. It was a fantastic artistic decision for her bedroom to have its own upper stage. The violence of downstairs creeped up to Juliet’s sanctuary where she would secretly rendezvous with Romeo.
Sophia Pettit’s rendition of Juliet was incredibly reminiscent of Claire Danes version of the same character in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film adaptation. The railing of the staircase proved a valuable transition space between the innocence of youth and the violence of adulthood.
All the cast fully embodied their performances, entirely throwing themselves into the role – it was so realistic I found it hard to believe these actors were other people once the lights shut off! Seamus Casey (playing Lawrence), Anna Sloan (playing Lady Capulet) and Becky Turner (playing Benvolio) even turned on the waterworks for their performance, adding to the authenticity.
I wasn’t expecting such a high-quality performance, production, and set design from a student society, but I was utterly blown away at what strong minded people can do when they get together for a project that they put their whole heart into. The venue was clearly carefully considered, and the set was intricately designed. Together it gave a powerful foundation to retell Shakespeare’s story. Credit to the cast and crew for a fabulously thought-out performance.
