JADAR

★★★★☆

The latest twist on the tragic Shakespearean romance of Romeo and Juliet makes it debut at the Royal Exchange Manchester, boasting a spectacular cast and quintessentially Mancunian twists on the tale of love, rivalry and belonging.

The stars of the show, Conor Glean (Romeo) and Shalisha James-Davis (Juliet), performed their parts with elegance and passion, bringing their own spirit to the roles. Shalisha in particular brought a new, more modern dynamic to their relationship, breathing to life a feisty and independent Juliet to whom Romeo can seek as an equal – a welcome addition to the story that made it feel more fresh and immersive, or like this story could occur in our own society rather than some distant time and land.

The incorporation of modern slang and party elements were also refreshing, particularly adding to the comedy of the first half in the juxtaposition of flowery language and modern colloquialisms.

While the Manchester setting didn’t make it feel more accessible, it added more layers to its humour, with actors sharing Manc accents, “apothecaries” represented by tracky-wearing biker drug dealers and a more applicable setting than distant Italy.

It’s essentially the tale as old as time: two young lovers from rival families fall in love despite the inevitability of tragedy striking. It’s a story that has survived since it’s publishing in 1597 thanks to emotional resonance and the story’s applicability to relationships of all eras.

My only drawback with this beautifully crafted play was the initial difficulty I felt in getting emotionally invested in characters (not because of the actors but due to the initial slowness of Shakespeare’s original start). After getting back into the language and after being wooed by the expressive performances of each actor, I was blown away.

The first act of the show is what I’d call the  comedy half: with banter from side characters, squabbles and Romeo acting like a lovesick puppy in all the most genuinely heartwarming displays of affection as he exclaimed his love to her in a Manchester skyscraper-esque balcony. steel tower balcony being made from steel tower. That, along with interactions with the audience and a party segment made the show a truly unique success.

The second half was the tragedy, foregrounded with blood effects, a rising platform for a deathbed, gorgeous rain effects and lightning flashes that beautifully reflected the sombreness of the couple’s last moments.

While the entire cast were fantastic, I couldn’t get over how passionate and realistic the performance from Conor as Romeo was. The exclamations of grief and pain felt real, his happiness was infectious; such a rollercoaster of emotions presented so expertly.

Romeo & Juliet runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre until November 18.Photo: Johan Persson