This play was written by Sharman Macdonald, a well known playwright and, famously, the mother of Keira Knightley. I mention this because it was Keira's idea that her mother should write this play. You know the sort of situation...you take your kids to see a film (Romeo and Juliet - the one directed by Baz Luhrmann) and on the way home they keep saying things like 'What happens after Juliet dies?', 'What happens to Rosaline?', 'Does the Nurse get the sack?' and so on. It's a wonderfully moody, atmospheric play that takes a long hard look at the tense peace that is just about holding between the Montagues and the Capulets following the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. It is set in a city (could be any city), in an undetermined time in history (or it could be modern - you decide). It's a scenario all to familiar to us - a conflict that has raged for many generations and continues to breed hate and resentment that is not easily healed. The Friar, The Apothecary, The Nurse and Peter are all on trial for their involvement in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet and everyone nervously awaits the verdicts. It's also hot, a storm is brewing and tempers are frayed. Rosaline wants revenge for the death of Romeo (whom, it transpires she really did love) and she rages at everyone, but particularly Juliet lying in her tomb. Her half sister Livia pleads for peace and a good marriage. Benvolio seeks Rosaline's affection, but his friend Valentine is fired up to take revenge on any Capulet he can for the death of his brother Mercutio. Petruchio can see past the warring factions, but can he steer the Capulet's to peace? The fragile Bianca has visions from the land of the dead in between driving her sister Helena to distraction. Alice only has one thing on her mind - and she needs Rhona's help to make her dress fine enough to net him. Gianni and Lorenzo try to pass the time as best they can ....
Petruchio: This feud began not in our father's time
But in our father's father's ......
And yet our young men die
In the service of this fierce fate
Which Rosaline believes gives our lives meaning.
The Drummer: Matt Oliver
Livia (a Capulet, cousin to Juliet): Cathy Scott
Rosaline (a Capulet, cousin to Juliet): Alys Wood
Valentine (a Montague, Mercutio's twin): Josh Herriott
Lorenzo (a Capulet, cousin to Juliet): Liam Stobart
Gianni (a Capulet, cousin to Juliet): Alex Cofield
Bianca (a Capulet, cousin to Juliet): Josie Jackson
Helena (a Capulet, cousin to Juliet): Lizzi Hawkes
Benvolio (a Montague, cousin to Romeo): Eliott Brinkworth
Alice(a Capulet, cousin to Juliet): Beth Flathers
Rhona (a Capulet, cousin to Juliet): Emma Gibbons
Angelica (The Capulet Nurse): Joanna Handley
Petruchio (a Capulet, Tybalt's brother): Joe Rolt
Juliet (a Capulet ghost): Alice Gaston
The Dancers (Montagues & Capulets): Fran Sparks, Hazel Cornwall, Vicky Stack, Grace Thomas, Mary Ann Wall & Bethanie Evans
Romeo (a Montague corpse): Hazel Cornwall
Directed by Barbara Hockley with assistance from Sarah Morrison
Designed by Emma Gibbons with Barbara Hockley
We started off the evening with a selection of short sketches.
In The Bookshop by Damian Trasler, David Lovesy, Steve Clark
Man: Liam Stobart
Customer: Alex Cofield
Cube Farming by Damian Trasler
Simon: Joe Rolt
Martin: Matt Oliver
Fairy Wings by Barbara Hockley
Lucy: Emma Gibbons
Gemma: Joanna Handley
In the Bookshop, Cube Farming and Fairy Wings were directed by Scarlett O'Donnell
Lighting: Boz Farey
Sound: Jim Rolt & Libby Vale
Stage Manager: Joyce Marshall
Stage Crew: Barbara Hockley, Sarah Morrison, Jim Rolt, June Lewis Alison Stobart & anyone else inadvertently lurking in the wings
Set Construction: Jim Rolt & Trevor Smith
Set Painting/Dressing: Emma Gibbons, Barbara Hockley, Sarah Morrison, Eliott Brinkman, June Lewis, Joyce Marshall, Trevor Smith
Costumes: Alison Stobart, Barbara Hockley, Jill Turbin. Thanks also to Jenny, Ann & Judith in the costume dept.
Make up: The Company, Sarah Morrison & Libby Vale
Dance Choreographer: Scarlett O'Donnell (assisted by Joanna Handley)
Fight Choreographer: Boz Farey
Photos by Jim Rolt
OTR June 2008
‘After Juliet’ is a play that was written by Scottish playwright Sharman Macdonald. It was commissioned for the 1999 NT Shell Connections programme, in which regional youth theatre groups compete to stage short plays by established playwrights.
‘After Juliet’ is the story of what happens immediately after the tragic end of Romeo and Juliet. Rosaline, Juliet's cousin, is now one of the main characters in the story and we learn that she had been in love with Romeo too. We also now meet the other Capulet girls and two Montague boys, Benvolio (Romeo's best friend) and Valentine. Benvolio loves Rosaline, but she cannot accept his love because he's the enemy, and she's determined to have revenge. Set during the tense truce between the families, while the trial of those implicated in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is taking place, this is a powerful and vivid play with a contemporary take on love and death, war and peace.
It was also the perfect choice for the Conquest Youth Theatre and it was a delight to see how much they had progressed in order to execute this so effectively and professionally. The scenery really helped to set the scene and the play proved to be very thought provoking – especially to those of us who studied Romeo and Juliet all those years ago for O’ level. The tense mood is one of the inevitable – the players are merely puppets acting out a fate that we already know. This is also enhanced by the dark image of a puppeteer (Matt Oliver) watching over the characters and using music to influence their thoughts and movements. We are all waiting for something – waiting for the brewing storm, the trial to be over of those involved in the death of Romeo and Juliet. We are waiting to see if the feud continues or the tenuous truce holds out – will there be more deaths? The puppeteer seems to suggest that we all have our own destiny – we cannot change it we are merely puppets in the performance – waiting.
The casting was excellent and the costumes fantastic – this was an excellent performance – one had to remind oneself of the age of the performers. They were confident and well rehearsed – a credit to themselves and the wonderful Barbara Hockley who directed them as usual, so well. Barbara is a perfectionist and her young cast did not let her down – there was great concentration on detail from start to finish and it is good to see when reading through the credits that the young performers also played a large part in the design, set and dance. They should all be commended on their excellent result.
It is so difficult to single out anyone – the play would not have been the same or so successful with different personnel – they all had so much to give. It was also good to see how well each group of actors complemented each other. Liam Stobart and Alex Cofield were absolutely hilarious in the way they could bounce their lines off each other – showing up how inane one can become during the inevitable waiting. Of the others Alys Wood, Josh Herriott and Eliott Brinkworth were exceptional – which only leaves the others as being truly wonderful too.
This was an inspirational choice for this group – showing everyone’s fortes and proving that, once again, the Conquest Youth Theatre is a force to be reckoned with.
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