Try GOLD - Free
Theatre review Lightning lovers run fast and don't stumble
The Guardian
|September 22, 2025
Romeo and Juliet is a play that lives or dies by the speed of its execution. Directors are best off ignoring the Friar's observation "they stumble that run fast" and Ellie Hurt rightly puts pedal to the metal in her vigorous production.
Not for nothing is Zoe West's Romeo wearing Nike trainers.
The first act is breathtaking, the adrenaline sustained right from the opening brawl through to the Capulets' ball. Romeo's reflections on Rosaline with Benvolio (Kelise Gordon-Harrison) are fizzier than usual; the Nurse (Ebony Feare) is hurried out of giving her lament for Susan; and instead of trying to calm tempers, Joe Alessi's hardnut Capulet is ready to glass Tybalt (Milo McCarthy) with a bottle of bubbly. As the party rages, Mercutio (Elliot Broadfoot) grabs the mic to reprise lines from the Queen Mab speech like it's a dance anthem, Mab's drumming of a soldier's ear turned into clubby beats.
When Juliet (Alicia Forde) and Romeo find themselves alone together, everything grinds to a halt and the stage falls silent.
This story is from the September 22, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
Macclesfield’s McLeod dies in car accident
The Macclesfield forward Ethan McLeod has died in a car accident.
1 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
Meta sued over suicide of sextortion victim, 16
The parents of a 16-year-old who took his own life after falling victim to a sextortion gang on Instagram are suing Meta for the alleged wrongful death, in the first UK case of its kind.
3 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
Gambling trap Illicit sites target addicts who are attempting to quit
The Long family are facing up to their second Christmas without their eldest son.
5 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
Arbitration service offers to step in to break deadlock in doctors' strike
The conciliation service Acas has offered to help to try to break the deadlock in the resident doctors' strike in England.
2 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
Par for the course? Why Ryder Cup hero McIlroy may miss Spoty cut once again
It has been a 2025 for the ages for Rory McIlroy. He cemented his legacy by completing a career grand slam with victory at the Masters.
3 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
Leftwinger expelled by Labour to lead UK's largest trade union
The UK's largest trade union, Unison, is on a potential collision course with Labour after it ousted a leader with close links to Keir Starmer in favour of a leftwinger who was expelled from the party three years ago.
1 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
Russia targeting European finance bosses and politicians over assets
Belgian politicians and senior finance executives have been subject to a campaign of intimidation orchestrated by Kremlin intelligence aimed at persuading the country to block the use of €185bn of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, according to European intelligence agencies. Security officials indicated to the Guardian that there had been deliberate targeting of key figures at Brussels-based Euroclear, the securities depository holding the majority of Russia's frozen assets, and leaders of the country.
3 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
The ‘winter’ crisis that never stops A day in the life of a Midlands hospital
Thirteen ambulances are lined up at the rear of the emergency department of the Royal Stoke university hospital as Dr AnnMarie Morris, the hospital trust's deputy medical director, walks towards the entrance, squinting in the low afternoon sun.
6 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
'It should be better than that' England weigh up complaint after Snicko error spares Carey
England are considering a formal complaint over the Snicko technology being used in this Ashes series after Alex Carey received a lifeline en route to a telling century on the opening day of the third Test.
2 mins
December 18, 2025
The Guardian
Trump trade deals 'built on sand', say senior MPs
Ministers and senior MPs said yesterday the UK's agreements with Donald Trump were \"built on sand\" after the Guardian established that the deal to avoid drug tariffs had no underlying text beyond limited headline terms.
4 mins
December 18, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size