Romeo & Juliet ★★★★ Metcalfe Gordon Productions (online) | Until February 27, 2021


Creativity and imagination have really come to the fore during this pandemic which has allowed Nick Evans and his team to produce this fascinatingly clever version of Romeo & Juliet. One would never guess that none of the performers were actually on stage together. Beginning in a theatre auditorium, the ingenious production designs by Jamie Osborne give us a series of realistic locations climaxing in an extremely beautiful crypt. Standing head and shoulders over the show is Sam Tutty's Romeo. Initially smitten with fair Rosaline, our hero's fickle eye soon migrates to Emily Redpath's pretty Juliet, and Tutty doesn't put a foot wrong as the young lover. He speaks the lines immaculately and his stillness often helps build the tension. This is definitely an outstanding performance of a role which can be difficult to pull off. Lucy Tregear's sympathetic Nurse and Helen Anker's Capulet together with Vinta Morgan's Friar Laurence bring gravitas to the smaller roles. Derek Jacobi puts in a beautifully spoken, if brief, guest appearance as the Chorus. Occasionally the pace slackens a little, but generally the action speeds along. Modern dress emphasises the gang culture we regrettably live in; the deaths, devastating as they are, seem simply part of modern life. Even the reference to a plague preventing the message from reaching Romeo resonates. For all its technical wizardry, this excellent production remains true to traditional values of a good story well told; one should simply sit back and listen – “how silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night”.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by D.S.J.
Photo by Ryan Metcalfe.

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

When, Where, Getting there:

Most Popular

St. Martin in-the-fields: Lunchtime Concerts ★★★★ FREE

Image
Maybe the best musical value in London. The lunchtime concerts at St. Martin's are always a wonderful way to escape the hustle and bustle that is London and the sensory overload that is Trafalgar Square. This is a beautiful setting with great acoustics, and a church pew hard enough to make sure you don't nod off. Reviewed by J.C.  Our score:    ☆☆☆☆  WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE: Mon & Fri: 1 pm - 1:45 pm ( occasionally Tues & Thurs)  St. Martin in-the-fields, Trafalgar Square Nearest tube: Charing Cross https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on
Full Details »

The White Chip ★★★ Southwark Playhouse, Borough | Jul 9 - Aug 16, 2025

Image
Sean Daniels' autobiographical piece recounts the heartfelt journey of Steven, tracing his steps from alcoholism to sobriety. Coming from a dysfunctional Mormon home, Daniels' protagonist at a very early age begins to use alcohol to deal with his issues. Nevertheless, by employing the same engaging charm and humour which marks this recounting of his story, Steven manages to achieve social success and to pursue a high-achieving career even as his life is falling apart. Despite an unplanned marriage, a serious traffic accident and various other crises, it is only when Steven finds himself on the side of the road contemplating suicide that he honestly comes to terms with his plight. For us, the character of Steven and Daniels' unflinching portrait of his dilemma recalled F. Scott Fitzgerald's picture of the disintegration of a drunken Dick Diver in Tender is the Night . In both cases, it is the ability of the characters to use their charm, or humour, which allows them to n...
Full Details »

National Ballet of Japan: Giselle ★★★★★ Royal Opera House | July 24 - 27, 2025

Image
In its first appearance in London, the relatively young National Ballet of Japan presents a Giselle that is quite extraordinary. Founded in 1997, the company under the artistic direction of former Royal Ballet star Miyako Yoshida, brings a maturity and sensitivity to its interpretation of the romantic classic that is truly unforgettable. The story of the peasant girl who is betrayed by the prince, but who later strives to save him from the retribution of the ghosts of the brides who have died broken-hearted, may be a standard of ballet repertoire. However, Yoshida and her company manage to make it as fresh and touching as the first time we saw it. Playing the princely cad, Shun Izawa is a wonderfully athletic Albrecht, and Yui Yonezawa's Giselle is totally captivating. Her portrayal combines a flawless technique and an emotional depth that is deeply touching. Yonezawa beautifully captures both Giselle's innocence and her susceptibility to Albrecht's blandishments. Also put...
Full Details »

Noughts & Crosses ★★★ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre | Jun 28 - Jul 26, 2025

Image
Malorie Blackman's novel was written for young adults, and this production is likely to hold considerable appeal for that demographic. The extended parable of racial injustice, woven together with a story of forbidden teenage love, would no doubt strike a chord with younger audiences. However, for older viewers, the message can feel somewhat overstated, and the love story, at times, predictable. The initial impact of reversing racial dynamics – placing Black characters, the Crosses, in a position of power over the white underclass, the Noughts – is powerful and thought-provoking. Yet, this inversion quickly loses its novelty, and the central characters, Callum and Sephy, reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, risk feeling one-dimensional. This is undoubtedly strong, teachable material, and it’s easy to see why it remains a staple of school curricula. On stage, however, the simplicity of the plot and reliance on stock characters might be better suited to the format of a musical. With the ...
Full Details »

Evita ★★★★ The London Palladium | Until September 6, 2025

Image
If you have seen previous productions of Evita , or even the film, you will first need to put aside any preconceptions arising from those experiences. Jamie Lloyd's reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic will probably enrage some as much as it will delight others. There is no attempt to realistically present events here, and not much effort to tell the story of Eva Perón. This is a raucous, raunchy, concert version of the rags to riches story of Argentina's most famous First Lady. What was previously an operatic telling of her tale and a complex study of political compromise and the corruption of power is now a theatrical experience. In this production, every number is sung at a volume of plus ten, and the energetic choreography is dialled up to the max, overwhelming any story or character development. In fact, the characters barely interact. They all play to the audience often with microphones in their hands. The set is a bare-bones affair, matching the costumes whic...
Full Details »

Diamonds and Dust ★★ Emerald Theatre | Jun 16 - Sep 28, 2025

Image
The new Emerald Theatre is a well-appointed venue that is a welcome addition to the London cabaret scene. Unfortunately, its first show, Diamonds and Dust , is a rather lacklustre offering despite some quite spectacular costuming. The main drawback of this show is the script, which simply isn't very interesting. Faye Tozer portrays, and narrates the story of, Miss Kitty LeRoy who is a gold-digging diva in the Wild West. She is a much-married card shark, and her journey is told through a series of poker hands. The humour that is the hallmark of most drag shows is notably absent here, and Tozer's attempts to solicit applause and laughter fall completely flat. Among the lip-syncing of various pop songs and lots of laboured hoofing, the first act of this cabaret show has a brief acrobatic performance which is followed up in the second act by an aerial strap display by Lady Lydia and Zoë Marshall which is the showstopper of this whole experience. The main focus of the cabaret, howev...
Full Details »

Till The Stars Come Down ★★★★★ Theatre Royal Haymarket | Jul 1 - Sep 27, 2025

Image
Beth Steel has a wonderful ear for dialogue and her Till The Stars Come Down is a brilliantly evocative piece. Although it is set in a very specific time and place, it manages to recall everyone's family and to create the timeless reality of family gatherings. The day of Sylvia and Marek's wedding begins simply enough. The three sisters, Hazel, Maggie and Sylvia are joined by Aunty Carol and the women put on their make-up for the big day. Amidst these preparations for the milestone occasion, there is the predictable banter, sniping and laughter - and, of course, there are hitches. The crisis of the dress that doesn't fit is fortunately resolved when the wedding gown of the sisters' late mother serves as a replacement. Then, there is the wedding reception. Despite the dinner being laced with references to old feuds, suggestions of secret liaisons and some casual racism, everything is smoothed over and appearances are maintained. However, when Act I ends there is a del...
Full Details »

Four Play ★★★★ King's Head Theatre | Jul 11 - Aug 17, 2025

Image
Pete and Rafe have been together for seven and a half years and have never had another partner. When they decide to ask Michael to help them explore new horizons, he's a safe bet because he's in an open relationship with their university chum, Andy. Both the closed relationship, which is experimenting with opening up, and the open relationship, which has certain rules for outside liaisons, seem to be based on honesty. But, there's the rub! As in all good farces, it is hypocrisy that will inevitably trip up the characters. However, while Jake Brunger's Four Play starts out as a classic farce, at a certain point, it takes on a more serious tone. Personal insecurities, class issues, and tensions between the idea of romantic commitment and sexual experimentation start to become toxic. Both relationships become threatened, and the question posed is whether either of them will survive. In the first half of this play, Brunger's clever dialogue and the amusing plot twists ...
Full Details »

Death Comes to Pemberley ★★★ Theatre Royal Windsor | July 22 - 26, 2025

Image
What happened to Elizabeth and Darcy after that happy ending of Pride and Prejudice ? P.D. James' mystery novel continues the story of the contentious couple when there is a murder on the doorstep of Darcy's ancestral home, Pemberley. The wicked Mr Wickham is back, and after his earlier attempted seduction of Darcy's sister, Georgiana, and his forced marriage to Elizabeth's silly sister, Lydia, this time he is involved in homicide. And, much to the chagrin of Darcy's snobbish aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, once again he is dragging the Darcy family name into his affairs. It is a great premise for a whodunit, but unfortunately James' novel doesn't easily transfer to the stage. Because Duncan Abel and Rachel Wagstaff's adaptation tries to get all the twists and turns in, the plot remains fairly convoluted. The audience needs to keep its wits about it to track all the characters and to absorb all of the information. It is this density of the story which re...
Full Details »

The Estate ★★★★★ National Theatre | Jul 9 - Aug 23, 2025

Image
First, there was Yes, Minister' s gentle spoofing of the governing class. Then, this was followed by The Thick of It - a wonderfully savage satire of our leaders and their minions. At its outset, Shaan Sahota's The Estate appears to continue that waspish and witty legacy of political exposés. However, this devastating peek at what happens behind the closed doors of Westminster, and at what goes on in the families and schools which foster the ruling elite, while certainly as amusing as its predecessors, is considerably more pessimistic. The protagonist, Angad, is a South Asian politician from an immigrant background who after attending elite schools and marrying into wealth is now on the brink of becoming the PM. He spins the story of his humble beginnings so that he appears to be a man of the people who can relate to the problems of the underclass. The truth - that his father was a brutal, misogynistic slumlord who abused both his tenants and his family - is only gradually re...
Full Details »

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings