& Juliet
Book by David West Read | Music by Max Martin & Friends | Directed by Luke Sheppard
The King's Theatre, Glasgow | 14 August 2024 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Musical Theatre fans rejoice! '& Juliet' is a big budget, Broadway and West End hit and it's in Glasgow as part of its UK Tour for the next fortnight. Full of iconic pop anthems, bright humour, stunning stage design and a whole lot of fun, '& Juliet' gives one well-known literary character a new script and a second chance at life.
The story begins when William Shakespeare's wife Anne implores him to write a new ending to his tragic play 'Romeo and Juliet'. What if Juliet didn't kill herself? What would happen if Romeo's death was just the beginning of Juliet's story? This fresh new musical takes the greatest love story ever told and fills it full of delightful new twists and turns, irresistible characters and a banging pop soundtrack.
'& Juliet' is really the Max Martin jukebox musical. If you don't know his name, you certainly know his music. He has written and produced some of the biggest pop hits of recent years for the world's greatest music stars. Martin has had more number one hits than any other artist this century and many of them are ingeniously used in '& Juliet'. From Britney Spears’ iconic “Baby One More Time,” to Katy Perry’s uplifting “Roar,” Bon Jovi's rock anthem "It's My Life" and the Backstreet Boys signature ballad "I Want It That Way," more than 25 of Martin's best known songs bring Juliet's story to life.
Unlike other jukebox musicals where the links to the songs can be tenuous at best, here it feels like the musical numbers really belong. They are all written into the script with skillful humour and every song is executed with wonderful vocals by the talented cast. Throw in a company of incredible dancers, infectious choreography, stunning video projections and fabulous lighting, and many of these world-wide hits have never looked or sounded better.
Anchoring the show and shaping the narrative as Will Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway, Matt Cardle and Lara Denning are exquisite. Cardle is famously a remarkable vocalist, but his comic acting is a wonderful surprise here too. There were a couple of times during this show when my jaw physically dropped, and one of those was when Lara Denning sang her first note. Wow; she's incredible! Together they make for a thought-provoking narrator for our tale and their constant good-natured disagreements about how the play should progress is a refreshing and amusing plot device.
The gloriously funny Sandra Marvin is brilliant as Juliet's nurse Angelique, and Jordan Broatch is a revelation as BFF May - another cast member with a stunning voice. But no one actor carries this show alone; it's a true team effort that soars thanks to it's fast-paced script, ever-changing scenes and array of diverse and interesting characters. I was lucky enough to see both Juliet Gerardine Sacdalan and Alternate Juliet Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid perform the title role on the same day. Both of them are captivating leading ladies with powerhouse vocals. You'll be in safe hands no matter which Juliet you join on her adventure.
I'd heard rumour of just how good '& Juliet' was in London's West End and I've had more than one person tell me that this new UK Tour production and cast are just as good. Having seen it twice now, I wholeheartedly believe that to be true. '& Juliet' is a bright, beautiful romantic comedy with a sensational soundtrack and spectacular production values the likes of which are rarely seen on tour. It's a Teenage Dream of a jukebox musical and a brilliant night out - don't miss it.
& Juliet plays at The King's Theatre Glasgow until Saturday 24th August 2024 and then continues on tour across the UK. Jump to tour listings and ticket deals
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⚠️ Age guidance: 8+ with some adult language
⌚ Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes inc. Interval
📸 production photos: Matt Crockett
& Juliet UK Tour Cast and Creatives
Matt Cardle Shakespeare
Gerardine Sacdalan Juliet
Lara Denning Anne
Sandra Marvin Angelique
Ranj Singh Lance
Jordan Broatch May
Kyle Cox Francois
Jack Danson Romeo
Also in the cast are Michael Nelson as Henry, Liam Morris as Richard, Rosie Singha as Judith, Nia Stephen as Imogen, Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid as Lucy/Alternate Juliet, Andilé Mabhena as Augustine / Dance Team, Harriet Caplan-Dean as Eleanor, Alexander Kranz as Lennox, Aaron Shales as Gregory / Dance Team, Toni Paise as Violet and Samuel Wilson-Freeman as Fletcher / Resident Director and Dance Captain.
& Juliet UK Tour dates and ticket deals
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Glasgow King's Theatre
13 - 24 August 2024 | atg.com/Glasgow
Glasgow & Juliet ticket deals include:
ATG+: £5 off bands A-C Mon-Thurs
Local Heroes: 25% off bands A-C Mon-Thurs
Senior midweek matinee: £4 off bands A-C
16-25s: £20 tickets bands C&D Mon-Thurs
Groups 5+: £5 off bands A-C Mon-Thurs
It's also worth checking the ATG SUMMER SAVER for UK WIDE theatre ticket DEALS for over 70 shows in 22 venues.
& Juliet Scottish dates:
💖 Edinburgh Playhouse | 12 – 16 November 2024 | www.atgtickets.com/edinburgh
💖 Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre | 4 February – 8 February 2025 | aberdeenperformingarts.com
Full & Juliet UK Tour listings here
➡️ See what else is coming up at Glasgow King's Theatre soon including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Come From Away, 101 Dalmatians, Bat Out of Hell and Tina!
➡️ See what's coming up at The Theatre Royal, Glasgow soon including Burlesque, Only fools and Horses the musical, Disney's Aladdin, SIX, War Horse and Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake!
& Juliet UK Tour review, The King's Theatre Glasgow, August 2024.
📸 Find Lisa in the Theatre on Instagram and Twitter / X
🎟️ Disclosure: I was invited to review this show and received a complimentary ticket in exchange. Neither the venue nor show has a say in what I write. I'm completely independent and invites have no impact on my analysis or star ratings.
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