A Timeless Tragedy:
Why Romeo and Juliet Still Resonates in Theatre
“And never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
These are some of the most heartbreaking words ever written on a page. We know the Shakespeare story:
In the span of three days, boy meets girl, they fall in love, the family feud ruins their chances of happiness, and, to be together, they end up…(you know the ending) It’s a timeless tale of love, romance, murder, deception, violence, and passion. Arguably, it’s the greatest love story of all time.
What caught my attention to the play this time around was that the Royal Shakespeare Company were taking it “on tour” throughout the UK – to schools and communities. And I stumbled on a French Theatre musical production that used simple-but elegant set pieces, great songs and effective lighting. So, my directorial concept was born.
I would like to acknowledge the creativity, advice and experience of our choral/music, design and technical teams; theatre work is collaborative work – and R & J is a fine example of how the Concordian community spirit enables and promotes quality work and provides, year after year, opportunities for student actors to perform on stage.
I believe one of the strengths of the piece was the character acting –with some accomplished performances by our young actors; Benvolio, Mercutio, the Nurse, Friar Lawrence, Tybalt and of course Romeo and Juliet came across convincingly and thoroughly entertained the audience. The cast as a whole were unwavering in their commitment and energy – taking risks in developing their on-stage presence. I am constantly amazed at how well our students juggle their academic, sporting and personal lives – and still find the time to participate in theatre. The performance on November 6th, 2024.
There was some rewriting and editing to do, but that is all part of the joy of the theatre. The fact that theatre still challenges societal norms & expectations means it is working – it is real and alive.
So why showcase this play? - at its core, is simply about true love, something that exists and should never be stamped out. If students read Shakespeare, it could bring beauty, poetry, and art into their lives in a way they never expected; and honestly with the way the world is right now we need something beautiful. We need Romeo and Juliet.
Clynt Whitaker, Director
