Taking Flight with Romeo and Juliet in Cardiff: A Review

Review by Emily Garside @EmiGarside

Taking Flight Theatre are back for their annual outdoor Shakespeare, this year with Romeo and Juliet. Taking Flight are an inclusive theatre company, meaning all their productions are accessible for audiences and performers alike. Unlike other theatre companies who treat accessibility as an add-on for Taking Flight accessibility is a part of the performance.

This means for Romeo and Juliet, there is live audio description as well as BSL interpretation and dialogue. Juliet and her Nurse converse in BSL and Romeo must attempt to learn some to communicate with his love. Meanwhile inventive and witty audio description serves to enable accessibility and move the narrative along.

Set in 1963 against a boarding school backdrop, a combination of swinging 60s design and music gives the show an energetic lift, and the promenade performance allows the performers to really engage with the audience and make the story their own.

This is an energetic and youthful interpretation of Romeo and Juliet and one that would serve as an excellent introduction to the text or indeed Shakespeare as a whole to audiences young and old. Set against a backdrop of Wales’ most beautiful venues on its outdoor tour Taking Flight have devised another inventive and engaging take on Shakespeare that all audiences can be included in.

Taking Flight @takingflightco

Touring Wales June 16-August 1st

Thu 16 – Sun 19 June Thompson’s Park, Cardiff

Tue 21 June Caerphilly Castle

Thu 23 – Sat 25 June Denbigh Castle

Sun 26 June Loggerheads Country Park

Wed 29 June Tintern Abbey

Thu 30 June Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr

Wed 6 July Tretower Court

Thu 7, Fri 8 & Sun 10 July Blaise Castle Estate, Bristol   Tickets for this venue can be purchased here: www.bristolshakespearefestival.org.uk

Fri 15 – Sat 16 July Valle Crucis Abbey, Llangollen

Sun 17 July Rhuddlan Castle

Tue 19 July Cilgerran Castle

Wed 20 – Sat 23 July Stackpole, Nr Pembroke

Sun 24 July Hilton Court, H’west

Tue 26 July Clyne Gardens, Swansea

Thu 28 July Elan Valley

Fri 29 July Kidwelly Castle

Mon 1 Aug Beechenhurst Lodge, Forest of Dean

 

Find out more.

 

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