Abigail March 12th, 2020
The lights are shining bright at the Shaftesbury Theatre with the news that & Juliet, London's latest jukebox musical, is a nine-time Olivier Award nominee! Find out three reasons why we think that & Juliet has the winning formulae...
Unlike other Jukebox musicals & Juliet's score comes from a range of genres and pop stars, with the connective tissue being the genius of super-producer Max Martin! Martin has written number one hits for the likes of Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and the Backstreet Boys, and is the music industry's go-to for a global sensation.
With songs like "... Baby One More Time", "Backstreet's Back", "ROAR" and "I Want It That Way" all featuring & Juliet is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for adults, and musical education for those born after the 90s!
The story of Romeo and Juliet is not only Shakespeare's most famous play but it's one of the oldest stories in history. But, if you're thinking that & Juliet is just another reincarnation of the classic tale then think again! This is a 21st-century story through and through. & Juliet rips up the rule book as we discover what happened if the sorry end of Romeo and Juliet never actually happened. With Romeo dead, our heroine Juliet heads to France to heal her broken heart. With her besties at her side and a whole host of musical bangers to boot, Juliet rediscovers not just life after love but who the power of being yourself!
With additional subplots, and characters that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community & Juliet has swung open its curtains and has allowed modern life to flow through the Shaftesbury Theatre's 19th-century doors.
If you like getting your money's worth then you can't go wrong with & Juliet! With its intelligent quasi-Elizabethan set and costumes and enough strobe lighting to keep the industry afloat & Juliet really is a feast for the eyes. With another technical wonder just around the corner, and yes a swinging chandelier, & Juliet is a relentless two and half hours of pure theatrical thrill!
& Juliet's Olivier Award nominations include Best Actor in a Supporting Role for David Bedella, Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Cassidy Janson, Best Original Score or New Orchestration, Best Theatre Choreographer, Best Actress in a Musical for Miriam-Teak Lee, Best Lighting Design, Best Costume Design, Best Set Design and the coveted Best New Musical.
The musical has a book by Schitt's Creek's David West Read, direction by Luke Sheppard and choreography by Jennifer Weber.
& Juliet has already won the prize of being the most Olivier nominated show this season, but, will it win in any of its categories? Tune into the Olivier Awards on Sunday the 5th of April to find out!
