WBHS does Shakespeare

WESTVILLE Boys’ High School’s stage is set to come alive again in May with a high-energy and physical interpretation of the much loved Shakespearean love story and tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.

This re-imagined and contemporary take of the tale of the two feuding families is set to be staged from Tuesday 13 to Tuesday 20 May in the Roy Couzens Theatre.

Set in Verona, a city torn apart by the long-standing, bitter feud between two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, you will meet Romeo and Juliet. This pair of young lovers meet by chance at a raucous party and immediately fall in love. The two are, unknowingly, of opposing families, a fact which propels the young lovers onto a doomed path which ends in their suicides, and subsequent reconciliation of their families.

While the original text and setting remain intact, there is little else of this contemporary take on an age-old tale which reflects its traditional version. The performance contains contemporary music, clothing and technology, all set against a minimalist, multi-functional set which makes no pretenses of being anything but what it is: an arrangement of black blocks which come to represent whatever is needed in the moment. This is a deliberate directorial decision, which seeks to shift focus to the quality of performance, and pervading social media presence evident throughout the show.

Under the direction of Derrick Anderson and Samantha Daly, and the technical direction of Luke Holder, the performance stars Grade 9 pupils, Carrick Keating and Christine Behrmann as Romeo and Juliet. Supported by a strong cast drawn from Westville Boys’ High School and its sister school, Westville Girls’ High School, this modern take on the tale takes a novel approach with the use of social media in the performance.

Performances take place at the school’s Roy Couzens Theatre from 13 to 17 May and 19 to 20 May.

All performances start at 7pm. Tickets cost R20 for pupils and R30 for adults. Contact 031 267 1330.