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Show Me the Meaning of a New Beginning

  • bkatherinerose1
  • Apr 16
  • 2 min read

Date-29/01/2025

Theatre - New Wimbledon Theatre

Seat - Upper Circle E19

Stars- 4 stars

Pink poster of "& Juliet" with a cast list in gold text. Decorated with flowers, hearts, and musical notes. Serene and elegant mood.

& Juliet is a take on Shakespeare's (Jay McGuiness) play Romeo and Juliet, but a retelling of Juliet (Gerardine Sacdalan) living her life as it begins when Romeo dies, focusing on female empowerment from Anne Hathaway (Laura Denning). It's a story about Anne taking the quill from Shakespeare. The themes of the show are feminism, challenging societal expectations, and self-discovery.


The costumes and set were both very bright and in line with the times, but with a modern twist that worked really well. The details hidden within the costumes and props were subtle but felt significant, with little easter eggs like the ruffles hidden under the modern look for Romeo (Liam Morris).


A strong cast that worked well as an ensemble, it was "Super Dope." A standout role for me was Angelique (Sandra Marvin); she really threw herself into the role of Nurse and conveyed so many different emotions when she was on stage. Anne (Laura Denning) was a role I loved, with her sass towards Shakespeare (Jay McGuiness), the guy that a lot of people hated, and saying what was on her mind while living her dream life.

Performers on stage dance energetically under colorful lights, dressed in vibrant costumes. The mood is lively and theatrical.

The dialogue was very much Shakespearean, with a touch of feminism and stronger female characters. The songs helped the show flow. The scene changes were very typical of a musical, with just soft music playing during the transitions.​

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The theatre is a 10-minute walk from Wimbledon tube station, which is a step-free station. The theatre itself has wheelchair access on Russell Road with an accessible lift.


Performers on stage in colorful costumes dance under bright lights. The set has a star-patterned floor and graffiti-covered arches. Confetti is scattered.

But only for stalls. The Upper Circle is hard to access and not good for people who have vertigo, as there are many stairs that go in a circle. In the stalls, there are wheelchair-adapted toilets with a baby changing facility. For the hearing impaired, they have an enhancement system and also have signed productions. The row in front was close, so stretching your legs during the show isn't the easiest. More information.(Here)





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