& Juliet – Leeds Grand Theatre

Book: David West Read

Music and Lyrics: Max Martin

Director: Luke Sheppard

With the popularity of shows like Six and Hamilton, historical productions are making history of their own.

Shakespeare gets the musical glow-up here, and & Juliet asks one key question – what if Juliet didn’t kill herself at the end of the tragic tale? Our Juliet moves to Paris and carves her own path without needing a Romeo to call her own. Themes of girl power, loving yourself and trusting your instincts underpin David West Read’s writing.

The titular Juliet (Gerardine Sacdalan) is a vocal powerhouse, and excels throughout. Her opening song – Britney’s Baby One More Time – is delivered sat down, but with seemingly effortless control and range. Later she sings atop a swinging chandelier, and nails that too.

Shakespeare is hailed here as the forerunner of gender-bending, and &Juliet celebrates modern relationships and gender identities. Will is played by 2010 X Factor winner Matt Cardle, who is a strong vocalist. Initially he seems a little lost amongst the musical theatre stalwarts, but soon finds his feet. We warmed to his take on the bewildered Bard, forced to rewrite his greatest work.

Cardle isn’t the only time-travelling telly face either. Ranj Singh plays Lance with a muddled French accent and comical codpiece. His silky gyrations are a far cry from his CBeebies doctor days.

Jordan Broatch shows a real sincerity as May, especially in the song I’m not a Girl. Broatch sings well, particularly in their duet with Kyle Cox’s Francois. Cox embodies the nerdy shy guy pressured into settling down, and revels in discovering his rebellious side with the wayward Juliet.

Nurse Angelique (Sandra Marvin) adds extra comic relief, and has a rich and soulful voice that is a pure delight. Lara Denning’s Anne Hathaway may be older than many of the characters – a point she frequently jokes about – but Denning never struggles to keep up. Singing, dancing and acting are all first-rate, and her rendition of Celine Dion’s That’s the Way is a highlight of the entire show.

Paloma Young’s costumes are absolute perfection, in-keeping with the era but brought bang up-to-date. Soutra Gilmour’s set design is stunning throughout, with a bold and striking set, clever use of projection and slick special effects. This is Shakespeare with added graphic equalisers, horse-drawn rickshaws, mixing desks and thumping beats.

The pop song choices are a diverse mix, and a live band adds depth. This reviewer grew up in the nineties, and isn’t ashamed to admit he recognised many. Expect hits from Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, The Backstreet Boys, Bon Jovi, and many more. It’s a soundtrack that spans the decades, with something for everyone to toe-tap along to. The soundtrack is downloading on Spotify as one types.

Many may be turned off by mandatory Shakespeare on the school curriculum, but a modern twist breathes new life into old stories. Don’t expect the original prose or plot, but the writing is inventive, the concept original and the energy relentless.

Family friendly? The suggested age range is 6+ with a PG rating. However, this seems to jar with the sexually suggestive themes and strong language; particularly the act two song P!nk’s F**king Perfect.

& Juliet has the audience on their feet at the end, beneath a shower of sparks and golden confetti. This is a cast that shines brightly and sparkles with a glittering array of talent. In fact, P!nk probably sums it up best in the previous paragraph.

Shakespeare has never been so camp, so colourful and so fun. Missing out on a ticket would be the real tragedy.

Runs until 30th November 2024