Juliet & Romeo – Camden Fringe, The Cockpit

Writer: Tom Inman

Director: Tom Chandler

Romeo & Juliet is an obvious staple of any theatre; whether Shakespeare’s tragedy is done traditionally or slightly adapted it’s unlikely that you’ll be presented with something completely unique. That is, until Giggle Riot put their hilariously clever spin on it and bring Juliet & Romeo raving into the modern age.

Juliet is an unashamedly loud, confident, wild child. Always eager to spice up a night out with a few too many shots or a couple of sneaky party drugs she’s constantly looking for a good time. Romeo on the other hand is a lot more reserved. He manages to keep his innocence with women and illegal substances well hidden – until he meets Juliet at the ever-fateful house party that makes their worlds collide.

Tom Inman deserves an award for his incredibly well written script. With a perfect balance of the underlying traditional story amidst his modern remix that he’s impeccably crafted, it’s hard to find fault. The actors break through the fourth wall into brilliance by referencing parts of the original tale and interacting with the audience. It takes a lot of intelligence and an excellent sense of humour to be able to pull off some of the subtle references within the narrative, and, clearly not content with just being a talented writer, he also shines in his on-stage performance as the self-proclaimed terrible therapist, Lawrence.

The cast, although quite young, acts like they’ve had centuries of experience under their belts. The impressive fresh talent between them all captivates everyone in the audience, with the actors falling easily into their roles and playing off each other with ease. Their obvious chemistry is a joy to watch.

Although the play centres on the customary love story between Juliet (Maeve O’Haire) and Romeo (Ryan Yengo) the supporting cast almost steal the show. Jack McLaughlin playing Paris and Danny Beaton playing Ty immediately set the scene, confidently interacting with the audience, and dominating the introduction with their hysterical quips and naturally witty repertoire. Alastair Coughlan playing Mercutio is fantastic – the epitome of a bourgeois boarding school brat, excellently portrayed and comically brilliant.

This is a definite gem of the Camden Fringe festival. Tom Chandler utilises the space at The Cockpit well, an ideal venue for this show. The lighting effects integrate well into the story, as do the references throughout the script to the low budget and minimal props, a terrific way to further bring the audience into this perfectly crafted performance. If ‘all the worlds a stage’ as Shakespeare himself says – then these are some of the finest young actors to grace it.

Runs until 11 August 2021

Camden Fringe runs from 2 August until 29 August 2021