Theatre review Lightning lovers run fast and don't stumble

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.

- Chris Wiegand

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.