& Juliet – New Theatre, Oxford

Book: David West Read

Music and Lyrics: Max Martin and Friends

Director: Luke Sheppard

The music of Max Martin combined with a reimagined telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an unlikely mix. Still, with the help of a well-crafted book by David West Read and a high-energy production from Luke Sheppard, &Juliet bursts onto the stage as a thoroughly entertaining jukebox musical. It is a show with heart, wit and some great tunes.

It is not perfect. Some of the dialogue is a little forced and the characters are not all as fully rounded as they could be. But it is a genuine crowd-pleaser that works well for all generations.

Visually, the set by Soutra Gilmour and the lighting by Howard Hudson combine perfectly with Paloma Young’s costumes to deliver a strong design that moves swiftly from scene to scene while evoking the feel of a contemporary pop concert. It matches the energy of the cast to deliver exactly what the show needs.

The cast is anchored by some incredible female performances. Gerardine Sacdalan (Juliet) is at the start of her professional career and clearly has a great future ahead of her. She has a powerful, flexible voice and a warm stage presence that should see her take lead roles for many years to come.

Lara Denning is the emotional core of the show as Anne Hathaway. She has a powerhouse of a voice as well as a flair for comedy. She stops the show with her Act 2 ballad and is clearly loving every moment on stage. That sort of energy is always infectious and the audience very much takes her to their heart.

Sandra Marvin has many years of stage experience and brings all of that and more to the role of Angelique, the Nurse. She delivers killer vocals and oozes charm. She lights up the stage without ever seeking to dominate the action. A class act.

The women do not steal all the thunder, though they do come close. Matt Cardle works well as Shakespeare obviously relishing his vocal moments. Kyle Cox (Francois) has a beautiful voice and perfectly captures his character’s anxiety. Ranj Singh, better known from his media appearances on Strictly and various daytime shows, brings huge fun to the role of Lance. He holds his own in more experienced company and delivers more than many would expect.

This does not have the feel of a scaled-down touring production. It is a well-put-together show with a talented cast that very rightly has the audience engaged from start to finish. It is certainly a show that is more than just a chance to see some Britney songs performed on stage. It is one of the better jukebox shows to have hit the stage in recent years and is well worth seeking out.

Runs until 7 September 2024 and on tour