...& Juliet does things her way!

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is arguably one of the greatest love stories of all time - and probably one of the most well-known. Written in 1595, it tells the tale of two "star-crossed lovers" who fall deeply and swiftly for each other, despite a deep-rooted, long-standing conflict between their families. Love at first sight, declarations of love from a balcony, and a shared death have sparked the imaginations of audiences for centuries. Yet, in 2024, in a post-#MeToo world, teachers are working harder than ever to engage students with Shakespeare's romance; a thirteen-year-old girl, a marriage one day after meeting, and a joint suicide can be hard plot details for young modern-day readers to comprehend. Our students rightly question: "Why did Juliet fall for Romeo so quickly?", "Did Romeo mean his vows of love, given that he was in love with another girl the day before?", and "Did Juliet need to take her own life after finding Romeo dead?"

These questions are the inspiration behind &Juliet, a hit West-End musical that is a partnership between music producer Max Martin and writer David West Read. Max Martin was responsible for a string of pop hits in the 1990s and 2000s, including tracks by Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and Justin Timberlake, and this music provides the perfect backdrop as the play asks: What would happen next if Juliet didn’t decide to take her own life? What follows is life after Romeo and a transformed 21st-century Juliet, who reclaims her life, her choices, and the whole direction of the play.

On Thursday 7 November, U4 made their way to Southampton to see the musical, which, after winning three Olivier Awards, is now touring the country. I think it’s fair to say that most of the students and staff had little idea of what to expect, although Mr. Stephenson, who has now seen the play eight times, had a better idea than most! My description of a “modern-day retelling” failed to prepare U4 for Juliet launching into Katy Perry's Roar while swinging from a balcony, or Shakespeare's wife grabbing her husband's quill while defiantly singing "I Want It That Way!" However, by the end of the afternoon, the whole year group were on their feet, giving a standing ovation to the cast - even an initially sceptical Mr. North and Mr. Jackson were seen clapping in time to the final pop power ballad! Glitter fell from the sky, and the backdrop sign with the words 'Romeo and Juliet' inverted, leaving Juliet's name at the top as she left the stage to take on the world - single and in charge of her own destiny.

Admittedly, discussions between the staff on the return journey included their headaches, small details from the play that perhaps weren’t presented accurately, and the real joy of a “purist” Shakespearean performance. The students, however, declared it to be "BRILLIANT," popped in their headphones (probably listening to '90s pop tracks), and sang the two-hour journey away, with female empowerment firmly in their minds. 

In 1564, Ben Jonson famously wrote that Shakespeare was “not of an age, but for all time,” and I think now our U4 students would agree!

- Written by Mrs Anna Spellman, Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning and Head of English

#QASFierceMinds #QASEnglish #&Juliet #Musicals #QASU4 #QASUpperFour