Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Greenwich Theatre, Coom's Hill, London SE10 | until 25 July 2026 ⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

Photo credit: Ross Kernahan

Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare

Greenwich Theatre, Coom's Hill, London SE10 | until 25 July 2026

⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

“Memorably Awful.”

A bold attempt by James Haddrell, the Greenwich Theatre's artistic director, to start a series of Shakespeare productions in this long established fringe theatre it is, however, a case of simply not rising to the challenge. A cast of six play multiple roles and every now and again sings songs accompanying themselves on guitars. But all of them need more instruction in how to deliver the verse and how to project to the depths of the theatre, while the decision to make Romeo a girl – it fits in with what directors do these days – makes the whole thing ludicrous. The set was fine, the costumes sometimes fine although what Mercutio got to wear was most peculiar while Lady Capulet's red dress would keep peeping out from beneath Friar Lawrence's black gown. It was patently not happening in Verona but that was not the problem. It was that it wasn't happening anywhere credible. You can shift the time, the location but you need it to happen somewhere you believe in. The cast toiled womanfully and manfully in spite of the heat – Greenwich does not seem to have any air conditioning – while the audience flapped programmes and fans in order to survive. But two and a half hours, even with an interval, made for a long evening and this one seemed endless. Haddrell makes his case for his approach in the programme – that it is a story about parents who lose sight of their children and cannot communicate with them, of young people whose emotions are heightened by growing up against a backdrop of violence and prejudice, and of friendships that become life or death alliances.  It is one way of looking at the play but not one I was for one minute persuaded by. The sword fights, however, were very well done, all credit to the instruction by fight director Kaitlin Howard. But when all is said and done this really is the worst production of the play I have ever seen. Memorably awful

Cast

Blossom Timothy – Romeo

Ava Honey – Juliet

Nikita Johal – Mercutio, Nurse

Charlotte Harwood – Lady Capulet, Friar Lawrence

James Aldred – Lord Montague, Tybalt, Paris

Matt Penson – Benvolio, Lord Capulet

Creatives

Director – James Haddrell

Musical Director – James Aldred

Set & Costume Design – Jana Lakatos

Lighting Design – Henry Slater