Shakespeare's R&J July 12, 2010

Shakespeare’s R&J returns to theatres with a three state tour including two seasons at Riverside Theatres.
Directed by the highly acclaimed Craig Ilott, this fascinating, insightful and beautifully crafted play commences at Riverside Theatres on April 22 and will play regional NSW and Victoria along with Brisbane, Melbourne plus a return season at Riverside.

In the repressive atmosphere of a Catholic boys boarding school where Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been banned, four students sneak out at night to secretly explore the play for their own enjoyment. At first it’s just for laughs, but as the young men discover the themes of secret and forbidden love, they gradually immerse themselves in the roles.

“I wanted to get to the essence of what I think Shakespeare is: passionate, violent, thrilling and theatrical” said playwright, Joe Calarco. “By cutting the cast to four guys we’ve been able to explore the way men interact and how they view women, sex and masculinity. The concept of students in a private school was created in order to mirror Shakespeare’s Verona and the stifling, repressive, forbidden world that Romeo and Juliet inhabit” continued Joe Calarco.

Bryce Hallet from the Sydney Morning Herald said “Initial reminders of Peter Weir's 'Dead Poets Society' fall away when the students, at first mocking and reckless, enter into the intoxicating spirit and seduction of the play, and fathom their own meanings.”

“R&J is Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet retold with a startling clarity that captures the daring and energy of adolescence with refreshing theatricality,” said Riverside Theatres Producer, Camilla Rountree. “We have assembled a cast of some of the hottest young actors in Australia for this vital production”.

Shakespeare’s classic tragedy features the talents of Julian Curtis, Ben Gerrard, Garth Holcombe, and Tom Stokes playing the four young students. NIDA graduate Julian Curtis’ theatre credits include Hot House Theatre & Sydney Theatre Company’s Embers, Queensland Theatre Company’s 25 Down and Sydney Theatre Company’s Gallipoli and his television credits include Rescue Special Ops and East West 101.

NIDA graduate, Ben Gerrard is well acquainted with Shakespeare, most recently in Bell Shakespeare’s Actors at Work, Canute Productions’ Shakespeare on Trial and in the Riverside’s 2008 season of Shakespeare’s R&J. Gerrard recent short film credits include Dream the Life and Veneer.

No stranger to Shakespeare, Garth Holcombe has twice taken part in Bell Shakespeare’s Actors at Work, Bell Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare’s Magic Box, Bardistic Adventures and The Seven Ages of Man. Other credits include Darlinghurst Theatre’s As Bees in Honey Drown, Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Don John of Austria, East Coast Co’s Italian Straw Hat. Holcombe’s NIDA production credit include Closer, Beach: A Theatrical Fantasia, The Attic, The London Cuckolds, Cymbeline, Three Sisters and Don’s Party. Holcombe’s television credits Seven Network’s All Saints and Home and Away and ABC’s Head Start.

WAAPA graduate, Tom Stokes has been in a number of WAAPA student productions including most recently Julius Caesar. He is a skilled theatre sports improviser. His film credits include Wasted on Young, Plum Role and short films Spirited, Shatter and At Play.

Shakespeare’s R&J is an innovative and highly physical interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. A hit world wide, it played over four hundred performances in New York and won the prestigious Lucille Lortel Award.

"With touching performances, beautifully directed using minimal props, it's powerful stuff."
Jo Litson, Sunday Telegraph
"The schoolyard rough and tumble, the lovers' passion and the confusion and aggression those feelings provoke are expertly orchestrated in Craig Ilott's uncluttered, high energy production."
Jason Blake, Sun Herald

Cast Julian Curtis, Ben Gerrard, Garth Holcombe, Tom Stokes
Director Craig Ilott
Designer Nicholas Dare
Lighting Designer Matthew Marshall
Composer Nick Wales
Movement Sam Chester
Sound Design Steve Toulman
Co-Producer Camilla Rountree
Co-Producer Phil Bathols