A theatrical performance by Lost Dog that subverts the classic Shakespearean tragedy, exploring the lives of Juliet and Romeo in their 40s dealing with a mid-life crisis.
Juliet & Romeo plays at York Theatre Royal on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November, two nights in the Main House. It's a production by Lost Dog, directed by the award-winning choreographer Ben Duke, and it mixes dance, theatre, and comedy.
The premise is a bit of a twist on the one we all know. It subverts the classic Shakespearean tragedy by revealing that the two titular characters didn't actually die in a tragic misunderstanding. Instead, they grew up and lived on. Now in their forties, they're depicted in the grips of a mid-life crisis, haunted by the pressure of being the 'poster couple for romantic love' and feeling mocked by their teenage selves. They try to work through it by putting on a performance about themselves, despite their therapist's advice.
Because it's a Lost Dog piece, it's not a straight play. It blends dance, theatre, and comedy, and the whole thing turns on that one big change to the original story. From there, it looks at cultural obsessions with youth and the struggle of longevity — what happens after the 'happily ever after' becomes a burden. It's less about the star-crossed lovers and more about the middle-aged couple left picking up the pieces.
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It's a short run, just the two nights of Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November in the Main House at York Theatre Royal.
