✨ Review - '&Juliet' at the Regent Theatre - A Joyful Blast from the Past! 🎶
Okay, I finally got to see & Juliet at the Regent Theatre, and spoiler alert - I loved it so much I went and saw it twice!
I went with some friends and even sat right at the back we were completely absorbed in the action, all singing and dancing along! I messaged my Mum about it and managed to persuade her to join me again the next night. This time I was sat a little further forward, and we just had the best evening – laughing, singing, and soaking up all the joy this show throws at you from the minute the curtain goes up until long after the show when we were still singing the songs back at home!
First off, the music...the nostalgia!! If you grew up with the pop bangers of the late '90s and early 2000s, you’re in for a rollercoaster of memories (in the best possible way). Think Britney, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry - all reimagined in this hilarious and heartwarming Shakespeare pop musical mashup. Honestly, every song I would look at those around me with wide eyes as we prepared to belt out another blast from the past. Total flashback to my teenage years!
The cast was utterly fantastic - so much talent, energy, and charisma. You can tell they’re having an absolute blast on stage and it’s impossible not to get swept up in it. A round of applause for the casting team - every character was portrayed PERFECTLY. I was looking forward to seeing Jay McGuinness play Shakespeare himself and he did not disappoint, but his on stage wife absolutely stole the show for me. Lara Denning, who played Anne, had the most electric stage presence, played the part with ease, and her rendition of Celine Dion's 'That's the Way It Is' beat the original for me - I know, hard to beat Celine but she did it - MAJOR GOOSEBUMPS!
The costumes were fabulous, props great, the staging was clever and having volunteered for a local charity theatre show I was fascinated seeing how they changed the stage setup to the next scene as a part of the show. Oh and the jokes? Genuinely funny - like, actually laughed out loud a good few times kind of funny, not just polite chuckles every now and again.
What I really loved though was how it felt like more than just a jukebox musical or a singalong. It’s smart and sassy, with a real message about rewriting your own story, making your own choices, and not letting someone else dictate your ending. A gorgeous message hidden within a fantastic show.
All in all – 10/10 night out. If you’re thinking about seeing it, DO IT. And bring someone you love – whether it’s your mum, your bestie, or just your inner teenage self who still remembers every word to 'Since U Been Gone' - you'll have a ball!
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