The beauty about London is you don’t just have to be in the West End to experience great theatre. In fact, if you a look a little further, many off-the-map performances are just waiting to be enjoyed. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing both – but my stage experience in the grass is something I’ll always remember.
William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet
Performed by the Shooting Stars Theatre Company in association with Lauderdale House
Picture the setting: The wine glass is full, a picnic unloaded and the blankets set out. In front of me is the glorious creamy stone wall of Lauderdale House, decorated with fairy lamps and roses. Perfect for an alfresco summer evening in London.
The Shooting Stars Theatre Company and director Helen Crosse have set up for a short stay at Lauderdale House (nearest station Archway) – the perfect place to tell the well-known Shakespearean tale of two lovers divided by family strife, and then tragedy.
The show has been modernised (t-shirts and Converse, the dress; bottled beer is the tipple), and the first half contains enough silliness and giggles to keep the children entertained, while a more underlying adult humour ensures the adults are laughing too. The comfortingly familiar text rolling off the cast's tongues.
The young group of actors put in a lot of emotion, from the opening scene right up until the devastating close and you can instantly understand why Crosse and her team have won awards over the years.
Joe Sargent (Romeo) begins his love story alongside the beautiful Emily Looms (Juliet), their undeniable chemistry leaving the audience full of smiles. As the tale goes on, their hopeless road is subtly instilled by the powerful performance of Graham Dron, a fine Mercutio.
Then the evening settles in, the light low for the second half – and you know what’s about to happen. Yet you can’t help but hold your breath for the thundering final scene with a small hope that this time, they’d make it.
Find out more about other Lauderdale House performances now: lauderdalehouse.co.uk/page.asp?ID=844&PID=843
