& Juliet – Opera House, Blackpool

Ever wondered what might’ve happened if Juliet hadn’t died? Well, there’s life after Romeo! With a hilarious script from David West Read (Schitt’s Creek), the story offers Juliet a new beginning, and a second chance at love, as it explores what might’ve happened if she hadn’t ended it all over Romeo. Intertwined with pop hits by song-writing juggernaut, Max Martin, & Juliet feels fresh, fearless and an awful lot of fun.

The opening number, ‘Larger than Life’, set the tone for the evening. Everything about this show, indeed, felt larger than life! The set design from Soutra Gilmour was epic, using a very clever blend of moving furniture and projections to bring the stage to life. Video designs and animations, from Andrzej Goulding, were similarly superb. Paloma Young’s costume design fused Elizabethan and modern fashions to create the most wonderful and unique look. Costuming, together with set and lighting (Howard Hudson), really did form the most beautiful, vivid imagery throughout, offering the audience a timeless, at times almost psychedelic, experience.

The casting was spot on. Gerardine Sacdalan, as Juliet, was a powerhouse! She gave  great balance to the role, blending fierce independence with humour and heart. With stunning vocals, nuanced acting and high-tempo dancing, she is a true triple threat. Matt Cardle and Lara Denning, as Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway respectively, brought believability to the married couple, as they seamlessly guided us through the rewriting of the play, packed with humour! I particularly enjoyed their chemistry as they bickered over what should happen next, tussling for the audience’s attention with their asides, but ultimately proving their strong unity with one another. At times I actually found myself wondering, ‘Is this what William and Anne were really like?’ Denning’s rendition of Celine Dion’s ‘That’s The Way It Is’ was breath-taking and, deservedly, met with prolonged applause and cheers. It was a real highlight. Sandra Marvin and Ranj Singh (Angelique and Lance) were the perfect comedy duo. Every time Singh strutted onto the stage, in those shiny pants and platformed shoes, you couldn’t help but laugh! Marvin and Singh’s performance of ‘Teenage Dream / Break Free’ was absolutely hilarious, just one example of the superb direction from Luke Sheppard. Marvin, though, showcased her versatility as she belted out Pink’s ‘Perfect’ with beautiful, raw emotion.

What I liked most about & Juliet is just how current and relevant it felt. None more so than the importance placed on non-binary character, May, played wonderfully by Jordan Broatch. May, along with queer character Francois (Kyle Cox), offer visibility and hope for young audiences who may feel different to the norm. These characters illustrate that people just like them exist, can be main characters and crucially can simply be accepted. Given the The Bard wrote plenty of characters outside the gender binary, the character of May felt a perfect fit for the show. 

As a famous man once wrote, if music be the food of love, play on. Max Martin’s wonderful soundtrack hit every corner of the Opera House, with the stunning live band, directed by Marcus Carter-Adams. Couple that with sublime and contemporary choreography from Jennifer Weber, performed exceptionally by the entire ensemble, and the audience couldn’t help but be up on their feet dancing and singing along by the finale.

Overall, & Juliet boasts a wonderful, contemporary, fresh twist on a classic tale. It is exceptionally well written with popular songs that felt as though they were written exclusively for the show. This is a perfect example of how to write, and perform, a Jukebox Musical properly. A faultless performance, of West End standard, this really is a MUST SEE.

& Juliet is at Blackpool Opera House until Saturday 27th July. Book tickets here: https://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/events/juliet/

Reviewer: Paddy Darnell-Walsh
Reviewed: 23rd July 2024
North West End UK Rating: