Joffrey Ballet: Romeo & Juliet

From Joffrey Ballet comes an unconventional re-telling of Shakespeare's tragic romance, Romeo and Juliet.

Celebrated choreographer and Director of the Polish National Ballet Krzysztof Pastor has said that forming this new production, which debuted in 2014, they had to start from zero; "No preconceptions. We thought it was our obligation to have an original view' hoping to make the story more relevant, to fit with Prokofiev's darkly rousing score.

Pitching subtly through three dramatic time shifts in the 20th Century, each reflecting darkness, whether hauntingly political or social, the dancers and physical surrounds stay the same. 'It is as if the same plot unfolds regardless of time' says Joffrey Artistic Directory Ashely Wheater. Though the heartbreaking outcome of the ill-fated pair remains the same. 'If a story is universal, it will translate to our time and our language: in this case, the language of classical ballet with a contemporary accent.'

Overview

Opening in Italy of 1935 (the time when Prokofiev completed the score), under of the cloud of Depression and Racism. With the Capulet family representing the upper class right wing, in comparison with the liberal, working class Montegues. With the second act, we see a time -shift to the 1950s, where the tension of communist reigns high, with the rise of The Red Brigade, standing for the obstructions for our Romeo and his fair Juliet.

Finally, the third act takes us to the not too distant past of of Berlusconi, where the conflict of the tragic outcome is played against the devastation of social division.

By placing the star-crossed lovers against these metaphorical, but truly real world situation, there is a heightening of the plight of all lovers fighting conflict, be it because of background, ethnicity, religion or otherwise.