When all other lights were going out during the darkest days of lockdown, Oxford based Creation Theatre Company continued to cast beams of hope and online entertainment by producing a series of imaginative, colourful and boisterous interpretations of literary classics including William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, The Time Machine and Alice in Wonderland.
It has done so again with their most recent online production of William Shakespeare’s love epic, Romeo and Juliet.
“the Oxford based Creation Theatre Company continue to cast beams of hope and online entertainment”
Creation’s stock in trade is to reconstruct both character and plot in quirky ways, which leave audiences guessing how the pieces will realign.
It is no different here, as we are introduced to a psychedelic, trippy riot of colour, fast-paced energy and Dolce and Gabbana-esque floral satin suits, all set to the pulsing soundtrack of a techno spotify playlist.
Before the show commences, you are asked to choose between being a Montague and a Capulet, which takes you into different adventure gameplays and puts you in the very heart of the action.
In the captivating opening scene tarot cards are used cleverly to convey the sense of ‘star-crossed lovers’, and the famous balcony scene uses different angles to represent the lovers’ alternate perspectives.
“the standout performance was Annabelle Terry as Juliet”
The Capulet’s Ball is engagingly presented in colour filters of purples and blues, with shimmering, silvery masks to suggest opulence before the tragedy.
Directed by Natasha Rickman, and working in partnership with the Watford Palace Theatre, the standout performance was Annabelle Terry as Juliet, who offered an intelligent and emphatic interpretation of the role and whose measured delivery captured Juliet’s tragic dignity amongst the boisterousness around her.
Unfortunately there was a technical problem on the night which meant that I was denied seeing the end. I hope others were able to.
The show runs until 23 May, and tickets can be ordered at https://www.creationtheatre
SIMON COURT
