"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare (adapted by Allison DeFrees) (5-8 Jul 2023)

Poster

Time is the most frequently recurring theme in Shakespeare, and little wonder: it is the one thing that no one, no matter how rich, how persuasive, can alter. By placing Romeo and Juliet in their twilight years, we asked ourselves the big questions: what do we owe family? What do we owe ourselves? And what does it mean to live, knowing we will die? 
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Thank you for coming to see the show and thank you to our fantastic cast and crew for their tireless work and enthusiasm. I am incredibly proud to have been trusted to direct this production.

Reviews:
​"Congratulations what a great version of Romeo and Juliet.  Really enjoyed it.  The nurse was hilarious and Juliet was perfectly cast and a marvel to watch. Overall a brilliant production" Inge M

"Well done everyone and congratulations @Allison DeFrees on your directorial debut!" Claire R

"Last night was an immense achievement!  Great acting - how did you remember all those WORDS? - scary and incredibly convincing fighting - and DEATHS, stylish set, really beautiful costumes and inspired directing.  Congratulations everyone.  Break a leg for the rest of the run!  Hope to see you some of you next week." Tessa D

"Great play last night!
Well done everybody 👍 " Anny H

"Congratulations on your opening performance this evening. Well done to all on stage, backstage, upstairs, behind the bar, outside the door and of course Sue 🥁. I was particularly impressed with the lanterns 🔥" Tony W

"It was a Joy! And a Triumph!! So happy to have been able to be there – just wonderfully entertaining and so beautifully acted – and directed!!! Love to you all xxx" Norah P

"Many congratulations! A fabulous take on R&J and so much work clearly went into it" Jessica C

"A triumph! Bravo!" Sally H

​"I came to Chiswick to see your Romeo and Juliet last night and was absolutely overwhelmed.  
Many congratulations.  It was so very, very accomplished and clever.  The whole production was extremely effective while being simple and uncomplicated, with some lovely touches of humour. 
The acting was superb. All the characters were really well played - excellent casting - the Nurse clearly taken to their hearts by the audience!" Sandy C
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“Great performances, well- directed and acted, impressive staging and lighting, solo musician wonderful and most effective! Overall a great play, and delighted the attendance was full -  so well-deserved !” Carolyn A-R

"Absolutely loved the twist, bringing much freshness to a well-known love story!
And some very good acting across the entire cast as well" Dawn H

"Congratulations!
One of the best ensemble SMP pieces I have seen - so much to get right, and so much you got right!
Bravo!" James H-S

 "It was really great .. wonderful acting , direction , set and music etc .. and such an interesting take on the story .. (there’s hope for me yet ?)
Big congratulations to you and everyone involved … so much effort and time had obviously gone into it all" Clare D

​“loved it, a triumph.  Thank you from us.”  Maggy R 

“I totally agree! Brilliant.”   Glyn F

"Really enjoyed the performance of Romeo and Juliet that we saw. Excellent presentation and Shakespeare's words were beautifully adapted. Congratulations to all concerned" Janine and Mike

Photos

Programme
2307_romeo_and_juliet_prog_v1.pdf
File Size: 1732 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Cast

​CHANCELLOR (Kay Porter)
BENVOLIO (Dave Kelly)
ROMEO (Alastair Dewar)
CAPULET (David Burles)
PARIS (Amelia Barker)
CAPULET SERVANT (Imogen Measday)
LADY CAPULET (Arabella Harcourt-Cooze)
NURSE (Alison James)
JULIET (Elizabeth Ollier)
MERCUTIO (Neil Dickins)
TYBALT (Chris Jones)
SISTER LAURENCE (Bryony Wilman)
LADY MONTAGUE (Christine Lee)
CITIZEN (Imogen Measday)
BALTHASAR (Christine Lee)
APOTHECARY (Neil Dickins)
FRIAR JOHN (Jim Simpson)
PARIS’ PAGE (Imogen Measday)
FIRST WATCHMAN (Chris Jones)
SECOND WATCHMAN (Alison James)
THIRD WATCHMAN (Jim Simpson)
LORD MONTAGUE (Dave Kelly)
MUSIC (Sue Shorter)

Crew

Director (Allison DeFrees)
Assistant Director (Paul Smith)
Dramaturg (Daniel Swift)
Producer (Chris Hulatt)
Stage Management (Susan Johnson, Christine Lee)
Lighting (Andy Rooney, Ian Trowbridge, Flora Barker)
Staging Assistant (Rachel Fay)
Set (James Holmes-Siedle, Gemma Harris, Vicki Belcher, Chris Hulatt)
Costumes & Props (Stage Management and the Cast)
Make-Up (Teena Heer)
Publicity (Tessa Dunn)
Poster painting (Arabella Harcourt-Cooze)
Front of House (Members & Friends of St Michael's Players)