A summer of partying and love is about to commence with the cast announcement of East London Shakespeare Festival’s riotous & atmospheric production of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. This new contemporary and fast-moving telling provides summer delights for all the family, with an opportunity to enter this magical world of star-crossed lovers in your local park.
Set in a familiar modern East London, this story of secret loves and families at war will be vividly brought to life by Nick Hardie (Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall; Doctors BBC) as Romeo; Emilia Harrild (Macbeth, The Three Inch Fools, national tour; The Importance of Being Earnest & A Midsummer Night’s Dream in rep, OVO, The Roman Theatre) as Juliet.
All other members of the cast will take on dual roles with Ursula Early (Please Right Back, 1927; The Endings, Soho Theatre; Wives As They Were, UK Tour) as the Nurse & the Prince, James Hyland (Royal Shakespeare Company and has won multiple awards for his own Brother Wolf Production’s’, including OffComm Commendation Off West End Award) as Lord Capulet and Apothecary, Isambard Rawbone (A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Iris Theatre, If This Is Normal, Hamlet and Sense and Sensibility, Aquila Theatre/ US Tour) as Tybalt & Friar Lawrence, Chris Knight (The Southbury Child, Bridge Theatre) as Mercutio & Paris and the recently graduated Sadé Philpotts making her theatrical debut as Lady Capulet & Benvolio. Also joining the company as the Apprentice Actor Caitlin Stevenson will be playing several of the smaller roles including Lady Montague, Balthasar and Rosaline.
Transforming areas across Hackney, Waltham Forest and Redbridge into the heady star-crossed nights of Verona. ELSF merges the contemporary culture of East London with the inspirational storytelling of Shakespeare’s plays in outdoor parks and community spaces across the area. Romeo & Juliet gives local residents a memorable and unique experience of Shakespeare’s most famous love-story, with a festival vibe and featuring a community cast of local residents at the Waltham Forest venues.
With Pay-What-You-Can performances and heavily reduced school matinees for local schools including a 20-minute pre-show workshop, the company work closely with 30+ community partners to free community engagement training and activities including: Work Experience placements offering invaluable behind-the-scenes insight, support with creative career options and new skills for students. And opportunities to join the community cast who perform alongside the professional cast during 8 performances.
Romeo & Juliet is touring London parks and venues 16th June – 13th August 2023 . Tickets are available from www.elsf.uk
