Matthew Bourne’s “Romeo + Juliet” will take to the stage for four shows from today through Sunday at the Macau Cultural Centre’s (CCM) Grand Auditorium, with the award-winning British choreographer’s reimagining bringing a contemporary twist to the classic story of star-crossed lovers.
Presented by New Adventures, the 110-minute dance theatre’s Resident Director Alan Vincent, Jackson Fisch, who plays Romeo, and Hannah Kremer and Bryony Pennington, who both play Juliet, met with media at CCM yesterday to talk about the performance, each expressing their excitement of bringing the show to Macau for the first time.
Vincent told reporters that the show has been touring different parts of the world for around a year. “It will be interesting to see how the Macau audience will be different to the other audiences we’ve had”.
With a reimagined era, setting and characters, performers also told the Post that the show, which premiered in 2019, has many aspects that make it different, with Pennington pointing out: “It’s Romeo and Juliet, but not as you know it”. She said that the classic story has had many adaptations, but this take on the classic story brings something different.
“I think we are telling it in a very new, current and different way. It’s raw and it just feels like it’s important to tell the story of forbidden love”, while it also feels amazing to bring new life to old characters, which each actor does, according to Pennington.
Speaking on the preparations for the show, which they described as physically and emotionally demanding, Fisch told reporters that in general, they have a month of rehearsals, always practicing and having note sessions throughout the tour. “The show is always developing and growing, not so much depending on where we are, but just where we are with the show at the time. Always trying to improve it and make it better”.
Moreover, Vincent said that all company members take on at least two roles. There are also three pairs of Romeos and Juliets, each of whom bring something different to the role while giving it their all. “You always get a different Romeo and Juliet bringing something to that story”.
Most of the performers in their group, according to Fisch, were dancers first, but learnt to emote on stage and the techniques behind it through Bourne’s direction, as well as from their residents, dance captains, and the people around them.
Meanwhile, the interviewees also mentioned what they hoped audiences could take away from watching the performance. Vincent said he hopes that audiences will find it to be thought provoking given its heavy subject matter, while Pennington, who notes that the show has an important message, hopes that audiences can take away something from young people facing adversity in the show.
Kremer, who said that this is her first principal role, added: “I think I want audiences to feel moved. Young love, it’s very passionate and you’ll experience a whole range of emotions watching it”. Beautiful and tragic, she notes that there is a great story at the show’s core.
Romeo + Juliet’s Resident Director Alan Vincent (from left to right) and performers Hannah Kremer, Jackson Fisch and Bryony Pennington pose after yesterday’s meet-the-media event at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM). – Photo: Rui Pastorin
