Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, Varna International Ballet

Guest review by Caroline Johnson

I was lucky enough to return to the Ipswich Regent Theatre this week to review the Varna International Ballet’s production of Romeo and Juliet, and it really was a tale of two halves - with the happy, carefree and humorous beginning giving way to a very dark and macabre end.

Now, I have to confess that I didn’t always pay attention in English Literature and my knowledge of our beloved William Shakespeare is not as good as I would like. For those, like me, who needed a reminder of the classic story about two feuding families and forbidden love…

A group of masked Montagues risk conflict by gatecrashing a Capulet party. A young lovesick Romeo Montague falls instantly in love with Juliet Capulet, who is actually due to marry her father’s choice, the Count Paris. With the help of Juliet’s nurse, the women arrange for Romeo and Juliet to marry the next day, but Romeo’s attempt to halt a street fight leads to the death of Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, and he is then banished. In a desperate attempt to be reunited with her love, Juliet follows the Friar’s plot and fakes her own death. Tragically, the message fails to reach Romeo and believing Juliet dead, he takes his own life in her tomb. Juliet wakes to find Romeo’s corpse beside her and, heartbroken, kills herself. Finding sense in sadness, the grieving families agree to end their feud.

Starting with a lightness, there were many points of humour including a set of jesters who poked fun at everyone, a mask that made Romeo look like the BFG and a rather enormous cod piece. The first half also gave the first surprise when one of the dancers actually shouted, out loud! I have never seen that before and the audience really enjoyed it.

However, in keeping with the source material, the second half was a different story.

It was dark, moody, bleak and downright scary. I truly felt that time was running out for the lovers, especially after the stabbing scenes. The costumes and choreography reflected the change in mood and the ‘Death Heralds’ were terrifying to the point that I thought in the last scenes we might be watching Kubric rather than Shakespeare; all the dancers were moving in time, with exaggerated hand movements willing the lovers to die. The atmosphere of tragedy was incredibly intense with music to accompany the profound sorrow.

What a performance!

In fact, all the dancers and musicians were wonderful throughout and Martina Prefetto as Juliet really stole our hearts.

Romeo and Juliet, Varna International Ballet

Although Shakespeare’s story was written in the 1500s, I didn’t feel that the ballet we enjoyed was from that time at all.

On stage there was quite unexpectedly a fair amount of undressing and at one point Mercutio was simply in his…ahem…pants (Is there is a special ballet term for this? Je ne sais pas). The costumes and dancing were, at times, quite raunchy too and the use of a digital backdrop provided a very welcome helping hand in defining the scenes. All very modern.

Of course, the music was a treat - the live orchestra always adds excitement and Prokofiev’s rousing and powerful ‘Dance of the knights’ theme played several times throughout to everyone’s delight.

In conclusion, an amazing, up-to-date interpretation of this timeless tragedy.

The Varna International Ballet is performing three ballets at Ipswich Regent Theatre from 23-25 January 2025.

FOR FULL SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE