& Juliet Musical at The Shaftesbury Theatre Review
If you’re a pop lover and are searching for a great musical that you’ll enjoy, & Juliet the Musical is one great option to consider. Let’s take a look at what the musical is about, the characters and the musical numbers so you can decide if you want to book tickets.
What is & Juliet about?
& Juliet the musical is a modernised version of Shakespeare’s classic play, Romeo and Juliet that acts as a continuation of the last scene. Instead of Juliet killing herself at the end of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the story follows a ‘what-if’ scenario where Juliet decides not to kill herself.
Juliet decides to gather Nurse and her girlfriends and go to the City of Light rather than take a dagger to heart. This act is meant to prove that Juliet is the author of her own story and shows that love can exist even after Romeo.
The production is a conversational form of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that reimagines it to fit a modern audience. It features music lyrics and choreography that clearly show that love can never be put into words.
The musical premiered in London’s West End in 2019 and won several awards, including Olivier awards in 2020. Characters Miriam Teak-Lee (Juliet), Cassidy Janson (Anne), and David Bedella (Lance) also won Olivier’s for their thrilling performances.
Luke Shepherd, who directed In The Heights, is the director of & Juliet the musical. Jeniffer Weber is the choreographer. Jeniffer recently choreographed ‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’. The set designer for the musical is award-winning Soutra Gilmour, who has worked on other productions such as Strictly Ballroom and Pinter at the Pinter Season.
How long is & Juliet the Musical?
With an interval, the Musical runs for 2 hours 30 minutes.
& Juliet Cast
Miriam-Teak Lee…
Role: Juliet
Training: Arts Educational Schools London
Theatre credits: Hamilton the original London cast and On The Town.
Concert credits: A Christmas Carol as a soloist, The Ljubljana also as a soloist
Cassidy Janson…
Role: Anne
Theatre credits: Man of La Mancha as Aldonza, Chess as Florence, Candide as Paquette are some of Cassidy’s most recent Musical Theatre Credits.
Recording credits: Debut solo album Cassidy.
David Bedella…
Role: Lance
Theatre credits: Jerry Springer the Opera as Warm Up Man/Satan, In The Heights as Kevin Rosario, the Producers as Roger DeBris are some of David’s most recent Musical Theatre Credits.
Awards: Olivier Award for Best Actor (Jerry Springer the Opera), Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor (In The Heights).
Oliver Tompsett…
Role: Shakespeare
Theatre credits: Guys and Dolls and Sky Masterson, Kinky Boots as Charlie Price, Rock of Ages as Drew Boley are some of Oliver’s most recent Musical Theatre Credits.
Workshop credits: The Wall and Hoods – The musical, and Ghost.
Alex Thomas-Smith…
Role: May
Theatre credits: The Cereal Café, Rent, Dear Evan Hansen.
TV credits: Dixi and The Revenge Files.
Melanie La Barrie as Angelique/Nurse…
Role: Angelique/Nurse
Theatre credits: Wicked as Madame Morrible, Matilda as Mrs. Phelps, Play Mas as Miss Gookool are amongst several of Melanie’s Musical Theatre Credits.
Film credits: London Road.
Jordan Luke Gage…
Role: Romeo
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits: Bat Out of Hell as Strat, Taboo as Marilyn.
Film credits: How Not To Disappear Completely as David.
Tim Mahendran…
Role: Francois
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits: Spring Awakening, The Midnight Gang.
Jocasta Almgill…
Role: Lady Capulet and Nell
Training: Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits: West Side Story as Anita, Sunshine On Leith as Yvonne.
Concert credits: West Side Story as Consuelo.
Ivan Freitas…
Role: Lord Capulet/Sly
Training: Middlesex University and London Studio Centre.
Theatre credits: Aladdin the Musical as Standby Jafar and Sultan, Jesus Christ Superstar as Priest and Understudy Caiaphas.
Rhian Duncan…
Role: Imogen
Training: Tiffany Theatre College.
Theatre credits: Grease.
Dance credits: X-Factor, Brit Awards.
Roshani Abbey…
Role: Lucy
Training: Royal Academy of Music.
Theatre credits: Gypsy as Ensemble.
Kieran Lai…
Role: Kempe
Film credits: All-Stars 2013.
TV credits: Britain’s Got Talent (semi-finalist), The Greatest Dancer (BBC).
Nathan Lorainey Dineen…
Role: Gregory
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits: Motown as swing and understudy Marvin.
Grace Mouat…
Role: Judith
Theatre credits: Six The Musical (West End & UK Tour) as Alternate and Dance Captain, Spring Awakening as Ensemble.
Antoine Murray…
Role: Augustine
Training: The Urdang Academy of Performing Arts
Theatre credits: Madagascar the musical as Marty, In The Heights as Graffiti Pette.
Kerri Norville…
Role: Susanna
Training: Bird College of Dance.
Theatre credits: Madagascar the Musical as an associate choreographer, The Wizard of Oz.
Rhys Wilkinson…
Role: Richard
Training: Urdang Academy.
Creative credits: We Need A Little Christmas as a choreographer.
Kirstie Skivington…
Role: Eleanor/Benvolio
Training: The Urdang Academy of Performing Arts, Miskin Theatre.
Theatre credits: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie as choreographer and director, Sideshow as Half man/ Half woman.
Alex Tranter…
Role: Henry
Training: Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Theatre credits: White Christmas as Jimmy and Ensemble, Eugenius as dance captain, assistant choreographer, and understudy.
What are the songs in & Juliet?
The songs in & Juliet form a key element of the musical as they add to the sense of the love stories. Most of the songs in the play bring a mix of sweet and sensual feelings that will keep every pop music lover entertained.
Act I
- Larger Than Life
- I Want it that Way
- Baby one more time
- Show me the meaning of being lonely
- Domino
- Show me love
- Blow
- I’m Not a Girl, Not yet a Woman
- Overprotected
- Confident
- Teenage Dream / Break Free
- Oops!… I did it again
- I Kissed a Girl
- It’s My Life
Act II
- Love me like you do
- Since U Been Gone
- Whataya Want from me
- One more try
- Problem / Can’t feel my face
- That’s the way it is
- Everybody
- As long as you love me
- It’s Gonna be Me
- Shape of my Heart
- Stronger
- Fuckin’ Perfect
- Roar
- I want it that way (Reprise)
- Can’t Stop the Feeling
- One More Try
Most of the songs in & Juliet are co-written by Max Martin, a Swedish songwriter. Martin is a highly recognised pop songwriter who has produced more than 20 number one billboard hits.
All the music on the & Juliet is expertly done, not to mention that the dances and costumes are brilliantly revolutionary.
Is & Juliet the Musical Suitable for Children?
& Juliet the Musical contains references of suicide (from William Shakespeare’s original playwrite) sexual activity and has some strong language. Due to this we recommend this musical for Children aged 10 and over.
Overall thoughts…
Watching the most famous love story of all time remixed on a ‘what if’ basis is definitely a fantastic experience for every pop lover. The musical delivers great singing, exhilarating dancing, and epic love performances. Your family will have a blast singing and laughing all night long with this love show.
Further Reading…
