Romeo and Juliet: a fresh take on a classic story

Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare’s all-time classics, explores the themes of love, tragedy, and destiny. Last week, our Year 9 class went on a trip to the Seymour Centre in Sydney to see the play live. It’s part of our current study and ended up really solidifying our understanding of the story. 

The play turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The characters felt very real, and some characters were split into multiple, their lines shared, making it seem like more friends were all together having a lively conversation. The actors’ emotion brought the story to life, so it was easy to follow even if we missed some words. 

The actors’ emotion brought the story to life, so it was easy to follow even if we missed some words. 

The setting of Verona, however, was interestingly set in the 1950s/60s, giving it a more modern Italian take. The staging was simple, with just a few props, but they cleverly transformed them for different scenes, like turning blocks into beds or using washing baskets for street scenes. 

The most unique element was that the story was told from Benvolio’s perspective. It began with an old woman showing a photo of Romeo and Juliet, and then she told the story. It was very eye opening, reminding us that (spoilers!) Benvolio was the only survivor from the group of friends. 

I have seen the ballet, two films, and other recorded productions. Overall, this version was one of the best I’ve seen. It brought a fresh take and left us all with a far better understanding of this classic story.

Emily Byrne, Year 9