Ballet: Romeo and Juliet

Choreographer Matthew Bourne has always surprised audiences with his original interpretations of classic ballets. We’ve had a Swan Lake with an all-male corps de ballet, Cinderella set against the backdrop of World War Two and a Dracula-inspired Sleeping Beauty.

Now he has turned his talents to Romeo and Juliet, transporting the story to an institution for young people (though you are never sure whether it is some sort of mental hospital or an offenders’ institute). 

The familiar tale, which has been reinvented so many times, focuses on youth. The company makes a point of nurturing young talent and this production uses a changing cast of teenagers from across the country for some of the roles.

Prokofiev’s dramatic score has also been reworked for a smaller ensemble of 15 players. The sheer power of a full orchestra is inevitably lost, but now there is a more intimate rendition of the moving music which is perfectly suited to the smaller venues the production will be touring. The score has been chopped around a little, so pieces are not played in the order audiences will be used to, but it nevertheless works.