By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 9 June, opens 14 June and runs through 29 July 2023 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (no interval)

Candles burn and flicker against the brick back wall of this beautiful intimate venue and we’re reminded why director Rebecca Frecknall has been shortlisted as best director in 3 of the last 5 Olivier Awards.

• Read on for reasons including what a fine Romeo Ted Lasso‘s Toheeb Jimoh makes

Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet is the story of young lovers from rival families where the line ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’ could perhaps not be more apt.

For us the symbol of the candle burning brightly but for indeterminate length and always at danger of being snuffed out sits well with this tale of – spoiler alert – violent death and multiple teen suicide.

Frecknall’s A Streetcar Named Desire won our Best Revival monsta in 2022 and we said of it: ‘we love the stylistic emphasis on Blanche’s aversion to natural light and her enthusiasm for covering the naked lightbulb in the cramped two-roomed apartment she shares with her sister and her husband with a gaudy red Chinese lantern-like lampshade.’

But it’s not just the memorable lighting motif played with here that will see Frecknall’s Romeo and Juliet similarly lauded in a run which has included her Cabaret (Playhouse Theatre) which won 3 monstas and 7 Oliviers a year earlier.

There’s a case to be made for Apple TV comedy Ted Lasso to be TV show of the year and, while theatre fans may be familiar with 1 of its stars in Hannah Waddingham, it is fellow cast member Toheeb Jimoh who plays Romeo here.

Jimoh graduated from Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2018 and here has his biggest stage role yet – and doesn’t disappoint. His Romeo is innocent, wide-eyed and extravagantly quickly in love with Isis Hainsworth’s (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bridge Theatre) youthful Juliet to the disappointment of many around them.

Frecknall’s The Duchess of Malfi at this very venue is not 1 of Frecknall’s most admired works but it did bring the amazing Jack Riddiford to our attention and here he returns complete with painted black fingernails as a larger than life Mercutio, frolicking with his friends with hilarious abandon and perhaps a little too bromanced-up with our titular male star.

The dress is modern day, we’re in the front row and cast members sit on the steps down from the stage at our feet which is perhaps why we were so surprised by the arrival of a gun on stage when the novelty of sparring with knives in modern day dress had apparently worn off.

Special mention also to Paul Higgins (The Doctor, Almeida) who is so good as Friar Lawrence particularly towards the play’s close as the rather convoluted plot twist is set in motion.

This weekend 2023’s 76th Tony Awards take place in New York with awards to look out for including & Juliet which is up for 9 including Best Musical.

If we had a criticism of this & Juliet it would be that we wish it would have taken the sort of licence that the Max Martin musical did in giving its heroine a little more agency in her fate.

But that is but a minor quibble. See this for the fantastic imagination Frecknall, who joins us in the audience tonight, brings to the retelling of a classic story by a fine cast with solid work by Jimoh and 1 especially memorable turn by Riddiford.

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy Almeida Theatre Tickets
• Have you seen a show directed by Rebecca Frecknall? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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