Buy cheap tickets for Boozr

I’ve seen this play a lot. Maybe too many times. It is arguably Shakespeare’s most accessible for audiences; though we may not all be Princes or regicidal Scotsmen, we’ve all been young and in love. However, it is far from the best written. It’s a young dramatist’s play, full of potential melodrama, some overblown writing and some horribly jangling verse. It’s a tribute, then, to the youngsters from Kidbrooke School, that I was entertained and impressed throughout, and shed a tear at the end.Owing something to both Baz Lurman’s film and West Side Story, the landscape here is gritty and urban. The opening scene, where the violent strife between the two houses of Capulet and Montague is set up, is here rendered as a terrifying sequence of mindless happy slapping style beatings. When the Prince orders the participants to ‘throw your mistemepered weapons to the ground’ it becomes a slogan for the kind of anti-knife crime campaign springing up these days in all of our major cities.This is the first of many ingenious touches which bring the play alive for a modern audience. The design (Robin Thompson), lighting (Natasha Chivers and soundscape are fantastic, and we really believe in this world. Director Lucy Cuthbertson takes much of the credit for the stunning ensemble work, and original idea upon original idea. The sinister hoodie-clad kids who circle some scenes on their silent bikes are as scary as any Doctor Who Villain. She has also cut the play intelligently, trimming or even leaving out some of the more difficult emotional or verse passages. There is much use of projectors and modern technology. The people of Verona are invite to the Capulet’s ball on Facebook! The acting, as you might expect with such young people, is patchy. Michal Omo-Bare has some good moments as the hapless Romeo, and Kay Payne is particularly strong as Juliet as the full impact of the tragedy that’s unfolding because of her unfolds. There’s a very strange piece of casting as the nurse – Billy Beswick is very funny in the role, but was clearly a camp boy rather than the matronly woman who would have suckled Juliet fourteen years ago. This casting is further skewed by having the nurse’s servant, Peter, also played camp or gay. I’m not sure what the message was here.The verse speaking is universally appalling, I’m afraid, which is forgivable. What is less forgivable is that some passages were clearly not understood by the speaker judging by the misinflecting and juxtapositioning of words (I told you I’d seen this too many times). Making sure this didn’t happen was also part of the director’s job.I would, however, urge you to see this production just for it’s sheer energy and invention. In the final moments, when the stage is left empty but for three body bags containing three dead young people those words appear again writ large in blood red on the backdrop to the action:Throw Your Mistempered Weapons To The Ground.Never have I seen this message clatter down the centuries so powerfully. And never has it been more timely.

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. We don't want your money to support a hack's bar bill at Abattoir, but if you have a pound or two spare, we really encourage you to support a good cause. If this review has either helped you discover a gem or avoid a turkey, consider doing some good that will really make a difference.

You can donate to the charity of your choice, but if you're looking for inspiration, there are three charities we really like.

Mama Biashara
Kate Copstick’s charity, Mama Biashara, works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya. They give grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security. That five quid you spend on a large glass of House White? They can save someone’s life with that. And the money for a pair of Air Jordans? Will take four women and their fifteen children away from a man who is raping them and into a new life with a moneymaking business for Mum and happiness for the kids.
Donate to Mama Biashara now

Theatre MAD
The Make A Difference Trust fights HIV & AIDS one stage at a time. Their UK and International grant-making strategy is based on five criteria that raise awareness, educate, and provide care and support for the most vulnerable in society. A host of fundraising events, including Bucket Collections, Late Night Cabarets, West End Eurovision, West End Bares and A West End Christmas continue to raise funds for projects both in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Donate to Theatre MAD now

Acting For Others
Acting for Others provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities. During the COVID-19 crisis Acting for Others have raised over £1.7m to support theatre workers affected by the pandemic.
Donate to Acting For Others now

The Blurb

Verona, 1595. Knife crime. Gang violence. Social disorder. Celebrity politicians. Disaffected youth. Teenage suicide... and love. Timeless. Fast-moving, physical, completely original. London sell-out. 'Uncompromising brutality and enough topicality to spark a Daily Mail outrage' (South London Press).

Buy cheap tickets for Wicked
Buy cheap tickets for Boozr

Most Popular See More

Buy cheap tickets for Mean Girls
Mean Girls

From £31.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire

From £31.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for TINA: The Tina Turner Musical
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical

From £13.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Stranger Things : The First Shadow
Stranger Things : The First Shadow

From £30.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Starlight Express
Starlight Express

From £29.50

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for MJ The Musical
MJ The Musical

From £25.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Stiletto
Buy cheap tickets for Fawlty Towers
Buy cheap tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk Adult Panto
Buy cheap tickets for Waiting for Godot
Buy cheap tickets for Mary Queen of Scots
Buy cheap tickets for Dr Strangelove
Buy cheap tickets for Lonely Londoners
Buy cheap tickets for Matilda
Buy cheap tickets for The Dazzling Diamonds
Buy cheap tickets for Mrs Doubtfire