Romeo + Juliet: Secret Cinema under the stars

LondonTheatre.co.uk attends Secret Cinema presents William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet at a secret location in London...

"For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo..." and yet, it is a story that has enchanted audiences for over 400 years... but, perhaps, never quite like this! After the immersive extravaganza that was Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! in 2017, Secret Cinema now takes on another Luhrmann classic with its presentation of the 1996 game-changer William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. In contrast to last year's indoor setting of the sinfully delicious streets of Montmartre, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene (apologies - I couldn't resist!), we now find ourselves under the stars (and at the mercy of the always changeable British weather) in a huge, outdoor, secret location.

Last night, we were invited to attend the production, which has been performing since 8^th August, and, as with all Secret Cinema productions, a little preparation was required. Character assigned? Check! Costume acquired (proudly displaying the colours of either the House of Montague or Capulet)? Check! Shakespearean sonnet and insult to hand? Check! Verona Beach awaits...

All patrons, whether Montague or Capulet, are invited to attend 'The Truce of Two Houses' but, alas, as actors greet you, spewing their hatred (in verse and prose, of course) for the opposing House, you get the sneaking suspicion that the truce isn't exactly going to run smoothly or end well.

With a capacity able to accommodate around 5,000 film fans at each performance, this is Secret Cinema on an epic scale. Carefully constructed with its signature attention to detail, artwork and set pieces lifted directly from the movie are scattered all over the site. From the House of Capulet to the gas station, the keen eye amongst patrons will recognise a wealth of film references. Even the food & drinks and merchandise stalls are themed appropriately, so Romeo + Juliet aficionados can put their knowledge of the source material to the test, whichever way they look.

Our advice would be to get there early, explore and interact. The large cast of actors are instantly identifiable and if you remain in their close proximity, sooner or later, the action will come to you. Secret rooms will be unlocked, private invitations may be distributed, and, if you're lucky, you might just get to experience an iconic musical performance from a gender-bending Mercutio.

In terms of the screening itself, there are arguably pros and cons to staging the event at such an enormous scale. Inevitably, you lose any notion of intimacy and the live actors, dwarfed by the enormous stage and screen, are so distant that you'd need a portable telescope to catch any sort of facial reaction. But, on the other hand, the possibilities for spectacle are endless. I've been asked not to disclose the most impressive elements of the production, but these are accompanied by massive scenes of stage combat and dance, and a lighting design that includes swooping searchlights to accompany the on-screen helicopters and the use of strobe during storm scenes. Yet, perhaps some of the most striking live elements were the simple use of silhouettes during the more emotional moments of the film.

Kudos to Secret Cinema for choosing Luhrmann's take on the classic love tragedy, with this most accessible of Shakespearean nights. It was certainly a joy to see the hordes of Secret Cinema fans, many of whom may have never set foot in a theatre to experience one of Shakespeare's plays, embrace the Bard for an evening. Performances continue at the secret location until 25^th August, so why not book yourself a trip to Verona Beach today?

"Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, 
That I shall say good night till it be morrow..." Until next time, Secret Cinema!

Secret Cinema presents William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet Tickets are available now.

^{(Photos by Camilla Greenwell)}