We’ve all had moments where we’ve wondered, ‘What if?’, and in the musical ‘& Juliet’, we get to see what would have happened if Juliet didn’t follow Romeo into that bright light at the end of William Shakespeare’s iconic ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
The idea is explored through two storylines – that of Romeo and Juliet, and that of William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway.
“It’s basically a play within a play. You see the outside perspective of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway as well as the new pathway for Juliet’s character,” explained Jade Lee, who plays Juliet.
“Anne gets to write the play from her perspective, and we get to see Juliet’s growth and how she takes control of her own destiny.”
However, chaos ensues when Shakespeare doesn’t approve of Hathaway’s storyline.
“Shakespeare doesn’t like that Anne has introduced a new love interest because he obviously prefers his version of the play,” Lee described.
“With that in mind, he decides to bring Romeo back to life and it creates a conflict between the two characters. Shakespeare also introduces a new love interest for Juliet’s love interest. There are so many layers, and all these characters are trying to find themselves and understand what life is.
“It’s written so well, and the audience is really taken on a journey, and you get to see the characters’ mindsets and how the choices that people make affect their fate and their destiny.”
Amongst the humour and pandemonium, the musical also explores important themes.
“Self-discovery is a key theme. Juliet learns who she is outside of the story that was written for her,” Lee explained.
“You see independence and empowerment, but you also see love in so many forms. Not just romantic but also love amongst family and self.
“It dives into second chances and new beginnings, as well as the power of choice and how making your own decisions shapes your life.”
The play has been described as immersive, using music and staging to hook the audience.
“It’s such a great experience to have a jukebox musical where you can have so many famous pop hits that people will be able to sing along with,” Lee said.
“We also have a lot of big sets, and we have a few surprises which will be pretty cool for an audience to see. It’s definitely a step further from anything that people have seen within community theatre.”
See the captivating musical at Riverside Theatres from October 3 to 19. Find out what happens when Juliet ditches her tragic end and trades it for a second chance at life and love by booking online at http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au.
Ally Hall joined the team 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She is a graduate of the University of South Australia.