An Outstanding Revival For Northern Ballet

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been played out in many different guises – a film, opera, ballet and even an ice show and it was the idea behind the musical West Side Story.

Romeo and Juliet was premiered in 1992 and it quickly became one of Northern Ballet’s most popular and critically acclaimed productions and toured extensively.

Created by choreographer Massimo Maricone and Northern Ballet’s then artistic director the late Christopher Gable it became one the company’s jewels in its many crowns .

Gable created the ballet to Sergei Prokofiev’s ground breaking 1935 music and coupled it with an amazing storytelling throughout.

But the ballet had its own Shakespearian tragedy in 2015 when costumes, and sets were devastated by floods – hence the reason it never saw another performance since it was premiered.

Last year a revival tour was launched thanks to the members of the company who used their skills and worked tireless to restore sets and costumes to enable this landmark production to return.

The story is familiar to most of us. Juliet and Romeo come from different powerful feuding families – The Montagues and Capulets. The couple meet at a masked ball where Romeo has gate-crashed and from there the star crossed lovers story begins.

It’s a seamless pacey production that goes from warm to violent and savage moments. The Dance of the Knights is particularly outstanding. Its black leather clad, menancing, aggressive and has strength and power and includes the ladies who add an air of dominance.

Harris Beattie (Romeo) and Saeka Shirai (Juliet) have a wonderful chemistry between them that displays an authentic emotion and a beautiful connection. There is a definite contrast between her naivety and his strength and athleticism.

Their balcony pas de deux is warm and tender and combines technically perfect lifts with Beattie’s magnificent elevation and Shirai’s fluid dance techniques and is truly the highlight of the show.

Yu Wakizukas as the hot headed Mercutio is outstanding with energy, acrobatic dancing techniques and a characterization laced with a cheeky humour. George Liang’s Tybolt is a belligerent battle leader, volatile and antagonistic which comes through both in his dance technique and portrayal.

Completing the cast are a stella lineup of highly talented dancers known as Northern Ballet’s Collaborative Artists

Romeo and Juliet is a stunning piece of story telling through dance of this tragic love story full of revenge and violence and re-staged with passion and a contemporary freshness.

Creative Team
Directed and Devised by Christopher Gable CBE
Choreographer: Massimo Moricone
Production Design: Lez Brotherston OBE
Assistant Director: Mollie Guilfoyle
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Orchestra of the Slovak National Theatre led by Mario Kosik
Lighting Design: Paul Pyant
Fight Director: Jonathan Howell
Tour Lighting: Alastair West

Runs at Leeds Playhouse to Saturday 21st June