Contemporary from their latest Offies Awards success with their final manufacturing, Pied Piper, Beats & Components at the moment are remodeling the Polka Theatre with their hip hop model of Romeo & Juliet. Aimed toward a youthful viewers (8 – 12+) it’s a completely partaking present with all of the core components of the Shakespearean unique, albeit with a couple of much less characters and much more rap. The set is fabricated from a collection of metallic constructions that type the define of a home when put collectively, every with an indication that’s highlighted when applicable: Capulet or Montague, helpfully reminding…
Ranking
Glorious
This energetic and interesting hip hop-infused rendition of Shakespeare’s traditional centres the drama locally of South London and in doing so makes it fiercely related to all audiences.
Contemporary from their latest Offies Awards success with their final manufacturing, Pied Piper, Beats & Components at the moment are remodeling the Polka Theatre with their hip hop model of Romeo & Juliet. Aimed toward a youthful viewers (8 – 12+) it’s a completely partaking present with all of the core components of the Shakespearean unique, albeit with a couple of much less characters and much more rap.
The set is fabricated from a collection of metallic constructions that type the define of a home when put collectively, every with an indication that’s highlighted when applicable: Capulet or Montague, helpfully reminding the viewers who owns the motion at any level. In the beginning, the actors cut up the viewers in half to replicate this group division. All sides is given a chant and an motion and the division between the 2 is full: structurally easy however clear, the viewers reminded of this separation of group.
Clearly, to suit the efficiency into one hour an quantity of textual content is lower, however the narrative stays true to the unique and follows the trajectory of the fated attraction of Romeo and Juliet, however this time in that well-known glamorous sizzling spot of Merton. Conrad Murray, co-creator and performer, was born and raised right here, admitting to solely simply transferring away (though he’s solely bought so far as Croydon, so he’s hardly deserted South London…). He reminisces that his first theatre go to was to the Polka Theatre within the firm of his social employee. Clearly a particular place to him, it’s becoming that he returns for this location-relevant retelling of probably the most well-known doomed romances of all time. A neat gadget, not solely does this permit a reference to the viewers, and a certain quantity of native humour, it firmly positions the story of two warring tribes in modern London, the place mixed-race communities and gang warfare is known. Greater than that, Romeo and Juliet, with its themes of prejudice and id disaster, poisonous household management and younger personalities striving to know themselves, turns into fiercely related when positioned on this means. These topics are handled in an age-appropriate method, but additionally such that every age group watching will assimilate what’s related to them.
Regardless of the trendy slant, some unique Shakespearean textual content is used. Repeated and accompanied by actions that make sure the that means is obvious, the adherence to the unique is a credit score to the writing. Simply 4 actors are on stage: Murray performs all of the Capulets apart from Juliet, and Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens all of the Montagues apart from Romeo. It’s a reflection on the power of each actors and the writing that, with minimal costume and prop modifications, it’s by no means complicated as to which character is talking.
All through, the music is delivered by Murray on guitar and the fixed beat of the beat field rhythm rapped by every actor seamlessly weaving out and in of dialogue. Khai Shaw is an completed Romeo, concurrently assured while touchingly self-doubting, though finest efficiency has to go to Kate Donnachie as Juliet: vocally excellent she lithely climbs the set/balcony while singing and dancing. Instantly establishing a rapport with the viewers when educating us to bop, her efficiency is a pleasure.
It ought to be no shock, however Murray and his collaborators have as soon as once more created a chunk of genre-bending musical theatre that works throughout all communities, bringing seemingly intellectual Shakespearean textual content and plot to the viewers that it was at all times meant for. And regardless of the age steering, I feel it is a efficiency that speaks to all generations.
Created by: Beats & Components (Conrad Murray and Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens)
Set and Costume Design by: Erin C. Guan
Sound Design by: Simon Beyer
Lighting Design by: Jonathan Chan
Motion Path by: Jonzi D and Simeon Qsyea
Produced by: Polka Theatre
Romeo & Juliet performs at Polka Theatre till 14 april. Additional data and bookings will be discovered right here.
