Review: Romeo and Juliet, Flywheel Repertory Theatre at Old Red Lion Theatre 2 Sept – 11 Oct 2025
‘The decision to locate much of the story in a city boxing ring is impactful.’ ★★★
Flywheel Theatre, Old Red Lion Theatre’s current resident company, are turning the wheel on repertory theatre. Their current endeavour is to produce six classic plays in six weeks with six actors. Each week a new classic is presented and, concurrent to that, they begin rehearsals for the next—it’s no easy feat.
On the 10th of September I watched their take on, possibly the most classic of the classics, Romeo and Juliet. Whilst London traffic teemed outside with tube strikes throwing the city into frenzy, the audience assembled to watch another city in frenzy: Fair Verona. Staying true however to their promise of ‘bringing fresh ideas to ancient stories’ the Verona that we see on stage is not 16th century city walls and Palazzo’s but a city boxing ring in an unclear time period—modern but not named. Our famed feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues are delineated, with a nod to pop culture, in pink and blue and the casting of our star-crossed lovers and their company, is gender neutral. Juliet, played by Charlie Woodward, is in pink and Romeo, played by Shanice Petilaire, is in blue. The other members of these households are also identified by either pink or blue costuming apart from Friar Lawrence (Sinead Davies) whose neutral costume colour nods to the character’s sympathies to both families and attempts to turn the tragic tale around.
Directed by Benedict Esdale, also the Artistic Director of Flywheel, this modern take on our well-worn story of star-crossed teenage lovers has much to like: the maverick and frenetic Mercutio is played with deft humour and brilliantly bold lewdness by Gabe Lumsden whose death becomes a blow to the whole audience. Nonetheless his presence, along with that of his nemesis Tybalt (Rachel Bardwell), continues on stage even after their respective deaths as they sit like ghostly spectre’s looking onto the action.
The decision to locate much of the story in a city boxing ring is impactful, a subtle and ever-present reminder of the hostility involved in the family feud. These two lovers from two different households on two very different sides of the fence are risking much more than just their hearts. Unfortunately, the brutality of this setting is not quite matched with the staged boxing matches which appear more theatrical and stylised than believable in their tussle and punches. Somewhat in keeping with this less-than-adverse atmosphere is the apparent joy of the colourful costumes: our central characters wear bright boxing silks—beautifully made long shorts and robes and their fellow troubadors are also bedecked in the same bright colours though in clothing choices not afforded quite the same thought and attention as our Romeo and Juliet.
Overall the production, though to be credited for its fresh take on this very well worn tale, somehow falls short on delivering the tragic end note of its finish. The sucker-punch in this pugilistic play unfortunately doesn’t land the blow but the dynamic staging and bold choices make it a worthy match for any opponent.
FLYWHEEL THEATRE REPERTORY SEASON at Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington 2 September - 11 October
The Rover by Aphra Behn September 2-6
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare September 9-13
Lysistrata by Aristophanes September 16-20
The Lodger after Marie Belloc Lowndes September 23-27
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw September 30 - October 4
Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe October 7-11
BOX OFFICE https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/flywheel-repertory-season.html
Romeo - Shanice Petilaire
Friar - Sinead Davies
Mercutio - Gabe Lumsden
Juliet - Charlie Woodward
Tybalt - Rachel Bardwell
Nurse - Joe Stanley
Prince - Suraj Shah
Director - Benedict Esdale
Assistant Director - Katy Livsey
Set & Costume Design by Rebecca Ward
Lighting Design by Brett Kasza
Photography - Miranda Mazzarella
