The lovely Laura from Max & Mummy blog invited me to join her as her plus 1 last night at the Mayflower and I jumped at the chance. Every time I watch a Matthew Bourne ballet I am lost in awe and wonder, and this was no exception.
As the famously rousing music by Prokofiev kicked in (not a sign of Alan Sugar, thank goodness!) I was mesmerised. The ballet began as it ended - with two lifeless young lovers side by side on a bed ... we thought we knew the story but this time there were twists - exactly what you would expect from a contemporary reimagining by Bourne.
A simple set, with a sign telling us we were a fly on the wall in the 'Verona Institute' was intriguing ... groups of boys and girls, all in white, were pushed around by guards, doors with bars locked them into rooms ... was this an asylum ... a young offenders institute ... a prison, a hospital ... or even school? There were no answers but it felt like a glimpse into some kind of grim dystopian future ... a future where love is forbidden.
There was a strong theme of mental health running throughout the story, as well as gun and knife crime - issues particularly relevant to today's young generation. By the end of the first half the whole audience was gripping its seat as the dancers played out some of the most tense and powerful scenes I have watched for a long time, providing further proof, in case any was needed, of the sheer scale of Bourne's talent and creativity.
The young cast was absolutely wonderful, especially Andrew Monaghan and Seren Williams in the title roles, who portrayed so much emotion through their performances. Williams, in her first principal role with New Adventures, was a dream to watch, her movements fluid and utterly beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off her.
It is worth noting that there were 6 young cast members aged between 16 and 19 who were chosen from a UK-wide search by New Adventures, providing them with a unique opportunity for their talent to be nurtured and developed in advance of them beginning a career in dance. Dillon Berry, Samuel Dilkes, Isabelle Evans, Bethany Hunt, Arianne Morgan and Jago Mottart worked seamlessly with the rest of the New Adventures cast at Southampton. What an incredible experience this must have been for them!
Romeo & Juliet is at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton until 28 September.
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