28 Nov – 1 Dec @ The Actors’ Hub ·
Presented by the Actors’ Hub ·

One of Shakespeare’s most popular and well-known plays will soon come
alive at The Actors’ Hub – with a twist.

Directed by Amanda Crewes, Romeo and Juliet is regarded as the most famous
lovestory in English literary history. “Romeo and Juliet explores the theme of
love, so I wanted to look at the text in terms of what’s still often considered
forbidden love today,” Crewes said. “That brought me to our current,
very cloudy view on same sex relationships. I wanted to determine whether
changing the gender changed our view on this love story.”

In this version, there are two casts with Romeo and Juliet played by women one
night, followed by men the next. “We want to honour what it universally means
to be in love and explore the dangers of extremist views,” Crewes said.

She said this interpretation of Romeo and Juliet offered a whole new perspective
but was also grounded in an existing awareness. “We know this story, we know
how it ends, we know what the lessons are and yet when presented with the
situation today we still, more often than not, withhold our tolerance and
forbearance,” Crewes said. “This is an issue we need to start talking about
because stories of forbidden love are still ending in death.”

Romeo and Juliet plays 7pm November 28, 29, 30 and December 1.
Tickets are $30, $25 concession – book at www.trybooking.com/ZHQW

The Actors’ Hub is at 129 Kensington Street, East Perth.

More info:
www.trybooking.com/ZHQW

Pictured: Love under watch in Romeo and Juliet, featuring Jared Stephenson,
Stephanie Bedford, Tia Rose and Quintus Olsthoorn.