Matthew Bourne has done it again in this powerful, bleak, rather shattering radical reworking of ROMEO AND JULIET.

The basic narrative of Shakespeare’s play has been kept, but changed, adapted and twisted .Bourne seeks to convey the overwhelming enormity of young love and succeeds triumphantly. It is full of youthful energy and vibrant urgency and the dancing is magnificent. Included among the cast of New Adventures members are some dancers still in training.

In Bourne’s reimagining the setting is the cold, grey, intimidating psychiatric Verona Institute – basically a double level white semicircle with three doors, framed by staircases and a balcony, all enclosed by gates of metal fencing and foreboding white tiled walls (designs by Lez Brotherston) complemented by spectacular atmospheric lighting by Paule Constable. Continue reading MATTHEW BOURNE’S ROMEO AND JULIET →