Romeo & Juliet At The Hawth Amphitheatre Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Amanda Hayes
After a busy, but fun, Wednesday in the school holidays, we ended our day by heading off to the amphitheatre at the Hawth, Crawley, West Sussex, for the production of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. The production was performed by Illyria, a fabulous touring theatre specialising in outdoor performances, this wasn’t the first show we have seen performed by them and after another stunning show last night, it won’t be the last.
We had been to the amphitheatre several times before and it adds a wonderful backdrop to any performance. In a wooded clearing the stepped grassy area means everyone has a perfect view of the stage and the actors can move around the audience should they desire. I really recommend watching a performance here, don’t forget to bring chairs, blanket and a picnic and settle in for an entertaining couple of hours that feels a million miles away from the standard theatre experience.
The play follows the traditional story, set in Verona, of love & loss with strong performances from all of Illyria’s cast really bringing the show to life. The cast has only 5 members, each playing several parts, with amazingly quick costume changes and a seriously impressive number of lines to learn & deliver each. Sarah Coyne plays Juliet with Chris Wills as Romeo and Lord Capulet, both capturing the audience’s hearts with their engaging dramatics. The pair of lovers had amazing chemistry on stage, really drawing you in to the emotions that the story brings. Lydia Waller plays three parts, Nurse, Tybalt and Prince Escalus all delivered with fantastic stage presence. Samuel Adams & Christopher Laishley also both play three separate parts, Samuel as Benvolio, Paris and Lord Montague and Christopher as Mercutio Friar Lawrence and Lady Capulet. How they all remember their extensive lines is quite incredible, especially as is Shakespeare’s style each speech can be several minutes long and in verse.
The show ends with heart-breaking consequences which for those of you that may only know parts of the story, I will not divulge the ending but rest assured you will be captivated until the very last second.
Illyria’s production of Romeo & Juliet will appeal to all ages, as most have at least heard of the play, if not know a little of the story. The very young may find the traditional Shakespearean language hard to follow, but my son aged 11 said even the bits he couldn’t understand didn’t affect his enjoyment of the performance. The audience was completely diverse with several groups & families, with every single person entertained throughout with engaging performances and added humour.
I highly recommend this show whether you are looking for an evening out for a family, a couple or a group of friends you will have a brilliant time. Illyria are continuing their UK and Netherlands tour of Romeo and Juliet until the 8th September but If Shakespeare isn’t your thing, then Illyria has several other shows coming up such as The Adventures of Dr Doolittle, and The Hound of The Baskervilles. Check out their website; https://www.illyria.co.uk/shows to see what is coming up near you.
Rating: 4.5/5
Tickets cost from £12/£20 Children/Adults
https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth/contact-us
For tickets call the box office : 01293 553636 (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm); Book online: https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth/contact-us Or purchase in person: Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm; From The Hawth, Hawth Avenue, Crawley RH10 6YZ