St Luke’s Theatre Society’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet reimagines this timeless Shakespeare tragedy with an 80s backdrop: the iconic decade that shocked our senses with a mixtape of neon colours and bold prints, leg warmers, lycra, big hair and rebellious youth culture.
Assuming not all are familiar with the storyline, Romeo and Juliet fall deeply in love despite their feuding families. Their secret relationship and plans go awry and lead to an untimely tragedy that finally compels the two families to reconcile.
If you’ve not had the luxury of surviving this decade, the question arises: why the 80s? The rebellious pop culture and emotionally defiant spirit of this decade echo Romeo and Juliet’s determination to follow their love despite social rules. U2’s song ‘With or Without You’ is just one example of a music transition used to reflect the pain of loving someone in impossible circumstances.
The Director-June Balfour takes us on this 80s inspired journey transitioning scenes with aptly chosen songs, often tongue-in-cheek, revisiting music icons such as Tears for Fears, Madonna, INXS, and Queen.
Nestled in the grounds of St Luke’s community church is a modern performance space. Sound production effectively delivers the dense prose often found in Shakespeare plays. A central revolving platform was used to alternate between Juliet’s bedroom and other locations including Romeo’s quarters. Utilising the centre aisle and steps as an entry and exit point for actors, cleverly extended the performance space creating a more intimate and immersive experience.
The portrayal of Romeo was delivered strongly by Lachlan Gregory Hugh, his mastery of the Shakespeare script effortlessly showing light and shade. Romeo’s footy-loving cousin Benvolio (Giorgio Impiccini) played his role with gusto and high levels of energy, bringing the scene to life wherever he went. Madelyn Scott’s commitment to the role of Romeo’s friend Mercutio brought clarity and meaning to the witty wordplay of Shakespeare.
Lillian Dowdell earnestly portrays Juliet bringing a quiet confidence to the role. The dynamic between Juliet and her Nurse was engaging and playful, their banter evoking much laughter from the audience. Ellie Bickerdike, as the bawdy touchy-feely nurse, leans into the role so much it’s bordering on cringeworthy.
The costuming showcased the hyper-coloured boldness of 80s fashion. Using set props like a Walkman and a gremlin plushie were fitting nods to the decade. I particularly liked the inclusion of Juliet’s drop-waist wedding dress!
While well-intentioned, the 80s tracks to transition scenes sometimes disrupted the mood, creating a disconnect with the story. The attempt to blend upbeat 80s music as light humour with the emotional volatility of the play occasionally interrupted the momentum, ultimately causing certain moments to fall flat.
Overall, the production succeeded in highlighting the timelessness of Shakespeare’s story. While it made bold use of 80s fashion and music, the theme was more decorative than immersive, still offering enjoyable relatability and engagement with the audience. This connection was further enhanced by creative staging and strong performances.
Romeo and Juliet is showing at St Luke’s Theatre Society, Brisbane until the 28th March. For tickets go to:
https://stlukestheatre.asn.au/
To book tickets to Romeo & Juliet, please visit https://stlukestheatre.asn.au/.
Photographer: carpediam.ink
