'Romeo a Juliet' makes theatre history

A new bilingual production of Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo & Juliet has premiered this week.

Our award-winning local news site Rhiwbina Info was at last night's press night at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff (Wednesday 1 October) for a production which will make history next month, when the Welsh language will be heard for the first time on stage at Shakespeare's Globe.

Romeo a Juliet, which is performed in English and Welsh, will tour Wales for four weeks before its historic run at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse - the indoor theatre space in The Globe, London (5-8 November).

Reviewer Andy Weltch described it as "a very accomplished and entertaining production of the familiar tale, with plenty of well-handled laughs in the first act before the unfolding of the inevitable tragedy after the interval."  

He added: "The use of two languages certainly adds something new - at a time when our society seems more polarised than ever, it's a stark reminder of how language can divide people as well as unite them."

The play is in Cardiff until Saturday (4 October), when it moves on to Brecon, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Mold, and Llanelli.

You can read the review here.

Photo: Marcus Brenner

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