Icarus

Romeo & Juliet

directed by Max Lewendel
William Shakespeare

Germany, 1933.

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Hitler's rise to power has begun and the seeds of hate begin to sprout as two star-crossed lovers join across the chasm between racism and love.

Info for Theatres
The Cast

About

Violent delights have violent ends...

Following on from the success of Hamlet and Macbeth, the highly acclaimed Icarus Theatre Collective presents a bold and exciting new production of Shakespeare’s most tragic tale – Romeo & Juliet.

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In defiance of their entire society and in secrecy from their closest friends, hopeful young lives burn amidst a cataclysmic backdrop of impending war. Sun and moon shine down on star-crossed lovers as a Jewish girl falls for a member of Nazi Youth and the boy questions everything he was taught to believe.

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They hide their passion and sexuality from their warring families and their closest friends. Misadventure, family pride, and anti-semetism abort and bury the most joyous of beginnings, the most hopeful of love stories as Romeo and Juliet, driven apart, find their world becoming a constricting, single mausoleum of fate and death.

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Running time: approx 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval.

The Cast

Neil McEwan

"If this is what comes from flying too close to the sun,

then long may they continue"

Marketing information

Cast (TBC)

Romeo:
Juliet:
Benvolio:
Mercutio:
Tybalt:
Nurse:
Lady Capulet:
Lord Capulet:

Creative Team

Director: Max Lewendel
Fight Director: Ronin Traynor
Movement Director: TBC
Vocal Coach: TBC

Production Manager: TBC

Designers: TBC

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Neil McEwan

"If this is what comes from flying too close to the sun,

then long may they continue"

Venues click here

Reviews

Click here to read more reviews

★★★★

"Does this energetic young mid-scale cooperative, which takes risks in exploring ‘the harsh, brutal side of classical and modern drama’, embraces the ‘post modern, surreal and theatre of the absurd’ and sets out to explore the visceral, unspeakable, kinetic and dynamic, have the raw acting talent to go with it?

The answer is an unequivocal ‘Yes’. "

-Behind the Arras, Roderic Dunnett

★★★★

"The polish of talent untarnished and shining like new silver. I hadn’t realised how much sex Shakespeare had hidden in this love story, but Lewendel has found every reference, plus a few extra inventions of his own. The fight scenes between Mercutio and Tybalt are extraordinary."

-British Theatre Guide, Helen Brown

★★★★

"The fateful clash between Romeo and Tybalt is particularly impressive and bloody, drawing gasps of shock.

Gemma Barrett’s Nurse proves a hit with the audience."

-The Good Reviews, Kieran James

Current Tour Schedule

Gallery

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What does our Community say?

Read our reviews over 24 productions

Trial of Galileo

RemoteGoat

★★★★★
"Icarus Theatre fly into London on waxen wings, which, after this compelling production, show no sign of melting any time soon, A fine production, and a fantastic example of a writer and performer at the top of their game".

How to be a Bad Girl

Deadline News

★★★★
"Chap's cheeky, witty and bold personality shines through as she sings the stories of her own life, and sometimes others - all with wonderful vocal ability and tone that excites and engages the mixed crowd that packed in to the room to see her."
Lucy Samson

Macbeth

Carrick Biz

★★★★
"Five Stars alone are due to the designers of the simple set and the expressive mood-setting lighting and sound. You'll find out what a bane-moon looks like."
David Kerr

Hamlet

Review Sphere

[Their] adaptation truly had rebranded Hamlet for the Game of Thrones age. It was daring and experimental and often risky, but it worked and proved that it is indeed a living and ever fluid piece of literature"
Caroline Malcolm Boulton

Trial of Galileo

RemoteGoat

"Icarus Theatre fly into London on waxen wings, which, after this compelling production, show no sign of melting any time soon, A fine production, and a fantastic example of a writer and performer at the top of their game".

How to be a Bad Girl

Deadline News

"Chap's cheeky, witty and bold personality shines through as she sings the stories of her own life, and sometimes others - all with wonderful vocal ability and tone that excites and engages the mixed crowd that packed in to the room to see her." Lucy Samson

Macbeth

Carrick Biz

"Five Stars alone are due to the designers of the simple set and the expressive mood-setting lighting and sound. You'll find out what a bane-moon looks like." David Kerr

Hamlet

Review Sphere

Icarus Theatre Collective's adaptation truly had rebranded Hamlet for the Game of Thrones age. It was daring and experimental and often risky, but it worked and proved that it is indeed a living and ever fluid piece of literature." Caroline Malcolm Boulton

Many Roads to Paradise

Uk Theatre Web

★★★★★
"For many reason this play should be seen by everyone. Drama students and theatre-lovers alike will applaud fine acting by the strongest of casts, you would pay a lot of money in the West End for a class act like this"
Gene David Kirk

Journeys End

The Public Reviews

★★★★
"Journey’s End’ is very much an ensemble piece and it would be difficult and probably rather unfair to pick out one actor over another. Each and every performance is consummately delivered." Steve Burbridge

At the Mountains of Madness

Ija Pona

★★★★★
"We were treated to a show that was true to the H. P. Lovecraft original and made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I experienced frisson during last night."

Romeo & Juliet

British Theatre Guide

★★★★
Max Lewendel’s careful direction makes perfect sense of the tricky text, finding as much humour as possible in the early comic scenes. He keeps his actors on the move, each with purpose and justified intention.
Helen Brown

Many Roads to Paradise

Uk Theatre Web

★★★★★
"For many reason this play should be seen by everyone. Drama students and theatre-lovers alike will applaud fine acting by the strongest of casts, you would pay a lot of money in the West End for a class act like this"
Gene David Kirk

Journeys End

The Public Reviews

★★★★
"Journey’s End’ is very much an ensemble piece and it would be difficult and probably rather unfair to pick out one actor over another. Each and every performance is consummately delivered." Steve Burbridge

At the Mountains of Madness

Ija Pona

★★★★★
"We were treated to a show that was true to the H. P. Lovecraft original and made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I experienced frisson during last night."

Romeo & Juliet

British Theatre Guide

★★★★
Max Lewendel’s careful direction makes perfect sense of the tricky text, finding as much humour as possible in the early comic scenes. He keeps his actors on the move, each with purpose and justified intention.
Helen Brown

Icarus