Romeo & Juliet
07 July 2026
Greenwich Theatre
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Greenwich Theatre is starting a new summer tradition of staging Shakespeare’s most loved plays in fresh productions during the hottest season, kicking it off with a fresh take on Romeo & Juliet. The tragedy of teenage lovers embroiled in a long standing family feud in fair Verona has been staged countless times, I have probably seen fifty different productions over the years myself, but this one brings a new perspective to the stage by casting a female Romeo, adding a further dimension of gender dynamics to this tale of woe while preserving Shakespeare’s original text. Changing only pronouns, it’s fascinating how this one small change brings such a different vibe to the entire story, almost but not quite changing its message entirely.
The set is absolutely gorgeously designed, with a solid two-story brick manor with stained glass windows standing in for all locations with just a swift change of decor or lighting. The focus is on the action and the music woven throughout the show. There’s a whimsical air about this production, aided by the strength of performance throughout the cast, who present very solid interpretations of their roles. Blossom Timothy is a wonderful Romeo, focussing most strongly on the character’s fickle intensity, the youthful depth of emotion that drives much of the action of the play, while Ava Honey’s Juliet is a little more mellow and considered.
Absolute standout next to the two main characters is Nikita Johal, effortlessly changing her entire demeanour, voice, and physicality to suit each role, soft and supportive as Nurse, energetic and full of bravado as Mercutio, showing off acutely honed acting skills while also quickly yielding the spotlight to other characters as necessary.
This production is a contemporary take on Romeo & Juliet that manages to reframe the story and clarify the character’s actions without changing the original text. A gorgeous fresh staging of this well known play that might show seasoned viewers a few unexpected angles, make Shakespeare easily accessible to newer theatre goers, and a definite recommendation for young viewers.
