Romeo a Juliet – Sam Wanamaker’s Playhouse

The tale of Romeo and Juliet, the young lovers Shakespeare ensnared in a tragedy across a familial divide, is a play that has been performed countless times, in many forms, some more successful than others.  Never before though it been presented as a bilingual production, the original Shakespearean English interwoven with the acclaimed Welsh translation by J T Jones.  It’s bold and innovative – in the wrong hands this could be seen just as a gimmick, but director Steffan Donnelly’s adaptation is a vehicle to enhance the conflict between the families, the misunderstandings and miscommunications that inevitably lead to tragedy, the reason for the enmity between the Montagues and Capulets long forgotten. The fluidity and flow of the text is retained, the characters’ intentions portrayed clearly regardless of which language they are speaking in.

The story is well known.  When Montague Romeo meets Capulet Juliet and falls in love at first sight, they hide their relationship from their families, marrying in secret. Juliet’s family are pushing her to marry Paris; all the while Juliet’s cousin Tybalt is goading Romeo to a fight. Instead, Romeo’s friend Mercutio duels with Tybalt, setting off a spiral of anger as deaths are avenged. The tragic denouement seems inevitable; after Juliet feigns death to escape marriage to Paris, Romeo believes she is really dead and kills himself. When Juliet revives, she sees Romeo has taken poison, is wracked with grief and fatally stabs herself.  

Steffan Cennydd’s Romeo and Isabella Colby Browne’s Juliet have a beautiful and believable chemistry as the lovers.  As Juliet falls in love and then marries Romeo, she gradually speaks more in Welsh, leaving behind her family and her native language. They show the passion of the young characters, recklessly rushing headlong into life.  Owain Gwynn brings wit and playfulness to Mercutio, and Llinor ap Gwynedd is a stern but caring nurse to Juliet.

Shakespeare’s text can be convoluted and hard to follow in English; following the action in Welsh for non-Welsh speakers might seem impossible.  Theatr Cymru have helpfully provided a language access app that gives a simultaneous translation of the text. This is useful but distracts focus from what’s happening on stage. Better to read up ahead of time how the story unfolds, then be fully immersed in the beauty of and entwining of the languages and the performances.

The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is anyway an atmospheric delight, with its candlelight and wooden facades. Elin Steele’s designs add to this backdrop with a deceptively simple set. Dyfan Jones’ musical compositions are ethereal and perfectly underscore the action, with a choir adding an additional other-worldly feel. The fight sequences (directed by Ruth Cooper-Brown) are genuinely thrilling and elicit gasps from the audience.

It is rare that a production succeeds in bringing together text, set design, music and performance in such a cohesive whole.  A remarkable and original feat that has resulted in a genuinely refreshing theatrical experience.

Romeo a Juliet is playing at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse only until 8th November.  Do not miss! Tickets are on sale from:  Romeo a Juliet | What’s On | Shakespeare’s Globe

Reviewer: Carole Gordon

Reviewed: 6th November 2025

North West End UK Rating: