Clever quotes, glitter-ganza spectacular, clever costumes, millennial madness, and yet more cleverness throughout!
& Juliet is a magnificently over-the-top, high-energy musical that takes Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, gives it a feminist remix, and throws in some of the biggest pop bangers of the last three decades. We saw it at Curve as part of the 2025 tour.
Having seen this show in the West End, I was intrigued to see how the tour would compare. Would it still deliver that jaw-dropping spectacle without all the fancy London staging tricks? Absolutely! Despite no revolve and no trap door, there was no lack of surprise and theatrical magic. The clever costumes (Paloma Young), the breathtaking projections (Andrzej Goulding), the slick set (Soutra Gilmour), the emotive lighting (Howard Hudson), and exhilarating pyrotechnics, glitter and gold confetti all ensure the magic remains intact. Director Luke Sheppard and music supervisor Bill Sherman keep the vibe fresh, fun, and full of life.
The story asks the big ‘what if?’ – what if Juliet didn’t commit suicide when she awoke to find Romeo’s lifeless body next to her? Luckily, William Shakespeare (Jay McGuiness) and his quick-witted wife Anne Hathaway (Lara Denning) narrated the show, penning a new, much-improved ending together... at Anne’s insistence. And she's not having any of Will’s traditional storytelling, she’s got ideas and opinions, and they include giving Juliet a second chance at life, love, and killer dance routines.
It’s a jukebox musical, but not just any old thrown-together playlist. & Juliet is next-level clever at weaving Max Martin’s hit songs (the genius behind Britney, Backstreet Boys, and Katy Perry) into the storyline, breathing new life and new meaning into every lyric. Interestingly, the Shakespearean twist was actually an afterthought! Originally, Jenny Peterson wanted to bring her husband Max Martin’s songs to the stage. Shakespeare crashed the party later. And thank goodness he did.
The creative team took their research seriously, studying the electric energy of pop megastars like Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, and the Backstreet Boys to blend concert spectacle with theatrical magic. And it shows! Jennifer Weber’s choreography is a seamless fusion of hip-hop, musical theatre, and pop-star swagger, giving the production its pounding energy. It’s like a stadium tour and a West End show rolled into one.
Performance-wise, this tour cast brings loud, energetic hype to the stage. Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet is pure vocal powerhouse, particularly in ‘Roar’, which feels like a full-scale pop concert moment. Her rendition of ‘Oops!...I Did It Again’ is hilariously woven into the plot, making Britney’s heartbreak anthem feel like it was always meant for a Shakespearean heroine.
As for my favourite character… It’s gonna be May! Jordan Broatch as May is endearing, charming, and sincere, bringing warmth to the story in a way that feels both contemporary and true to Shakespeare’s often gender-fluid writing.
For the millennials in the audience, the boyband moments are perfection. Watching the lead men harmonise to ‘As Long As You Love Me’ is nostalgia heaven, and McGuiness and Denning’s playful duet of ‘I Want It That Way’ is an ingenious Shakespearean yet obviously very modern debate.
Sandra Marvin as Angelique, Juliet’s nurse is an absolute delight. Her chemistry with Lance (played by Lee Latchford-Evans) is entertaining and you can’t help but root for them.
The ensemble don’t just support the show; they are the show. Effortlessly shifting set pieces, floating in and out of the action, blending into the background when needed, and keeping the energy sky-high from start to finish – they are real theatre heroes.
& Juliet at Curve is everything you want from a feel-good, laugh-out-loud night at the theatre. It’s Shakespeare, but not as you know it and a pop concert, but with extra heart. It’s a spectacle that will have you dancing in your seat.
See & Juliet at Curve until February 22.
