Romeo and Julie London Reviews and Tickets

82%

(14 Ratings)

Positive

86%

Mixed

14%

Negative

Members say

Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Great acting, Resonant, Entertaining

About the Show

Callum Scott Howells & Rosie Sheely star in Gary Owen's reimagining of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers.

Romeo is a single father struggling to make ends meet. Julie is fighting to keep her dream of studying at the University of Cambridge alive.

These two Welsh teenagers were raised a few streets apart - and have had totally different upbringings - but when their paths finally cross, fall in love. Julie’s family fears the worst in this critical period where one thing could change the course of her life forever.

Following their critically acclaimed production 'Iphigenia in Splott', director Rachel O’Riordan reunites with Gary Owen to deliver his new play.

Show-Score Member Reviews (14)

100

Profound, Resonant, Thought-provoking, Entertaining, Absorbing

See it if You like a clever and witty play. The best thing I have ever seen at the National. See it if you’re welsh!

Don't see it if You don’t want an innovative and exciting piece of theatre.

Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Profound, Thought-provoking

See it if you love plays about the working class

Don't see it if you prefer the classics

Great acting, Enchanting, Delightful

See it if Wonderfully played and directed, a charming play.

Don't see it if Story is a bit slight for some.

Refreshing, Thought-provoking, Resonant

See it if you'd like a play that relevants to your day to day world, talks to you directly played by young talented companies.

Don't see it if you are expecting any type of adaptation of Shakespeare staff. It feels nothing to do with it. Maybe the title is used to hook audiences.

Slow, Excruciating, Cliched

See it if You are looking for something new, or you’re a fan of the actors

Don't see it if You’re expecting a straight adaptation of Shakespeare, this is a teen drama, full of overblown boring teenage angst and nonsense

Resonant, Profound, Absorbing

See it if -

Don't see it if -

Contemporary, Believable, Tender, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You’d like a realistic love story between two teenagers. 2 excellent central performances and a gritty, moving script.

Don't see it if you don’t like swearing and themes of abortion

Resonant, Thought-provoking, Insipid, Great acting, Entertaining

See it if You enjoy seeing new work & solid performances. It's worthwhile for Rosie Sheehy's performance in the final act.

Don't see it if You enjoy shows that challenge the audience - the book wasn't as "meaty" as I was hoping it would be. Read more

Critic Reviews (10)

“While the premise of young love is the same, there are no feuding families or grand morals in ‘Romeo and Julie.’ It's reduced to a feeble plot of teenage nonsense.”
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“This remains an enthralling love story that links the big questions of physics, biology and chemistry to a very basic issue: what happens when human life and adulthood arrive too soon.”
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“It is immensely refreshing to see a tale of working-class love and aspiration unmediated by the presence of a middle-class ‘linchpin’ character...Working-class lives are centred here and this play’s achievement is in making their world visible, and entirely believable.”
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“What’s remarkable about Owen’s play is how it is open-eyed about selfishness and deprivation and frustration and foolishness yet also fundamentally positive about people.”
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“This is, though, also a play full of hope, even joy: a modern subversion of a romantic tragedy that writes its own rules and finds not just a different ending, but new beginnings.”
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“There's a keen social conscience at work here, and every character is so richly textured, and presented without comment or patronisation...Forget those kids on a balcony in Verona, ‘Romeo and Julie’ is an absolute must-see.”
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“This is closely naturalistic, witty, skilled writing, shot through with subtle tensions and resentments, and given life by Rachel O’Riordan’s full-blooded production.”
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