There are jukebox musicals, where catalogues of famous tunes are strung together in a contrived plot and then there is & Juliet. Although they include the obligatory symbolic jukebox in the show, Max Martin’s musical rises above the others because of the wit and creativity of taking the original tunes and rewording them to tell the story of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet from the female point of view. It cleverly weaves the historical known facts of William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway (the death of their son Hamnet, their long periods of separation and references to his plays and use of language) into a reimagining of Romeo and Juliet in which Juliet (spoiler alert) decides to not commit suicide on the discovery of Romeo’s death but build a new life for herself in Paris. When asked to change it, he sings the Grammy nominated number one single, ‘I Want It That Way’.

It brings Shakespeare to a new audience; fans of the music of Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande and the Backstreet Boys in a fresh, frivolous and fun frolic. It helps if you know all of the original songs, as most of the audience definitely do, whooping with delight and amusement as each song begins. At times, it is as if we are at a pop concert with the audience waving their arms above their heads to the tunes. But at the same time, it reminds us of how Shakespeare enhanced our language creating phrases that have passed into everyday usage.

There is a strong Six vibe to the modern feminist portrayal of medieval characters, putting three females centre stage. Geraldine Sacdalan is a bundle of energy and attitude as Juliet with a fine, powerful voice, leading the five ensemble girls in a wonderfully choreographed (by Jennifer Weber) all-action routine straight out of a pop video. Sandra Marvin as Angelique Juliet’s nurse, with a strong soulful voice and delightful comic touch, is a joy to watch. Best of all is Lara Denning’s magnificent Anne Hathaway battling with her husband not just to put their marriage on a more equal footing, but to change the way he writes about his characters. She is the driving force behind the plot stamping her authority not just on the storyline but also on the show.

The male characters are a stereotypically diverse collection who come together for the spoof Du Bois band for the Backstreet Boys song, ‘Everybody’. Matt Cardle, the 2010 X Factor winner, is Shakespeare reminding us he can rock a tune. Jack Danson is the star-crossed lover Romeo who we learn has crossed stars with everyone in Verona. Kyle Cox is Francois, a nervous young man being forced towards an unwanted marriage until he meets Jordan Broatch as Juliet’s best friend May. The fifth member of the band is TV doctor and Strictly contestant, Ranj Singh, as pushy father Lance Du Bois with a ludicrous cod French accent in his musical debut demonstrating he is a very good sport.

The cast are almost too energetic at times, and you feel they should take a breath and slow down rather than charge from song to song in a breathless race to be centre stage. The sound on the stage right side of the auditorium seemed to have an echoey reverb effect added which made some of the lyrics hard to hear. However, when they got it right, as in Juliet’s version of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ and Ariana Grande’s ‘Problem’, and Anne’s version of Celine Dion’s ‘That’s The Way It Is’, they create an exciting moving fresh atmosphere.

The production is theatrically staged with some elements placing us backstage in a theatre and other projected or flown elements that give it the feel of a pop video, but it is colourful, brash and youthful with modern costuming incorporating hints of medieval dress. Max Martin and friends (music and lyrics) and David West Read (book) have created something fresh and modern that avoids the cliches and banality of other jukebox musicals, is hugely entertaining and attracting big audiences (it was full house on a Monday night in Oxford’s New Theatre). If you have not seen it yet or are a fan of the music, it is definitely worth catching on its extensive UK tour which runs until June 2025 so you too can discover that there is “life after Romeo” and reminding us all that we should be able to make our own life choices.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne

& Juliet plays at New Theatre Oxford until 7 September before continuing its tour. To book tickets for select touring venues, please click here.