As a part of the Digital Media Academy, when I first found out that the Belgrade’s version of Romeo & Juliet would be adapted by containing rap, R&B and spoken word songs (all in modern-day language), I confess I was a mix of intrigued and mildly sceptical; not because of the ambition of the project, but curious to know how the world of star-crossed lovers from Verona would mesh with the music of today’s world. Regardless, I didn’t need to be concerned, as Corey Campbell and the Belgrade team absolutely knocked it out of the park, bringing together a rendition that satisfies both fans of the classic Shakespeare and those completely new to his work, and delivering a rollercoaster of a show.
From the moment you enter the theatre, it becomes clear how the Montagues and Capulets have been reworked from two families locked in feud into two sparring political parties – the foyer is covered in propaganda material, and the screens are looped into playing campaign messages from both parties. Having been there personally for the shooting of the digital assets during the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt, it was great to not only see something I contributed to on the stage, but to see how exactly the screens had been utilised to provide a surreal, world-breaking feeling to the experience.
The production is full of energy right from the beginning, and after the intermission, the performance picks up speed and emotional depth. The company truly digs into the play’s depth as the performance goes on, and having witnessed the cast off-set, it was amazing to see how much they transformed onstage. Across the show, the songs vary from a spoken word monologue depicting Juliet’s rising panic, to the warring words of Mercutio and Tybalt. The lyrics by Keiren Hamilton-Amos and Corey Weekes (of That’s A Rap) transitioned effortlessly from the original script and help concentrate the emotions onstage and direct them squarely at the audience, helping those unfamiliar with the text to recontextualise the scenes into a modern format.
Overall, I can stand proud in not just the work I contributed, but the overall experience of Romeo and Juliet, a show that defies the standard Shakespearian convention and brings the story into an altogether new light. This is an opportunity I could not have been a part of without the Digital Media Academy, so I give a special thanks to Simone Herbert for making the opportunity come together, and allowing me to be a part of this experience.
“A rendition that satisfies both fans of the classic Shakespeare and those completely new to his work.”
