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teachwire.net/secondary PA R T N E R C O N T E N T 71 Kimberley Sykes discusses her upcoming staging of Romeo and Juliet at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre “It’s awarning – listen now, before it’s too late” English and drama teachers will have seen dozens of Romeo and Juliet productions over the years – what makes this one different? Everyone knows what happens in Romeo and Juliet . What I’m interested in is how these events come about. How do two teenagers fall in love so deeply and so quickly? How do young people end up committing murder? How do five young people end up dead over the course of just four days? Most importantly, what could have been done to stop it? I think Shakespeare is asking how we can be a better community and support the next generation to thrive. It’s a warning play – listen now, before it’s too late . Therefore this production will look and feel a lot like contemporary society. I want audiences to recognise themselves in the story, and so some roles will be re-gendered and the company will reflect the diversity of our modern world. I’m interested in challenging assumptions about this play. The key to any production of the play is to make the audience think Romeo and Juliet might not die tonight, which means creating an experience that’s visceral and unpredictable. What artistic challenges and opportunities does staging the production in an open-air venue present you with? We’re exploring ideas around the safe spaces we create for ourselves, the rooms we manufacture, and then contrasting that with the courage and bravery of those characters who break out of those spaces and dream bigger. There are many references to the elements and natural world in the play – the stars, the moon, the sun, earth, dirt, worms. The play is in direct contact with being outside. There’s more at stake in the outside world; less protection, but it’s more exciting. What is it that makes Romeo and Juliet such an enduring and consistently popular play? I think the play captures what it feels like to be young and experiencing huge emotions for the first time. Love. Hate. Sex. Death. Joy. Grief. Witnessing people catapulted into these situations is extremely immersive and cathartic. Romeo and Juliet are heroic characters. They do things that we’re scared of doing. It’s also one of the most beautifully crafted plays ever written. Shakespeare drives the narrative with such expertise. He knew how to keep an audience invested from beginning to end. Are there any specific themes or elements within the play that you’ve sought to emphasise with this production? It feels like a ‘state of the nation’ play. We’re experiencing a generational 30 SECOND BRIEFING By taking away the ceiling and walls of a theatre the relationship between actors and audience becomes more direct, creating an ideal environment for young people to enjoy quality drama. Education tickets £16.50; teachers go free with every 10 students. divide. Hatred is rearing its ugly head. Violence is on the increase. There’s a mental health problem and rising numbers of suicides among the young. One of the most important lines in the play for me is when Romeo says to Friar Laurence, ‘ Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel .’ He’s right. But if we can’t have a conversation about how we feel, then how can we move forwards as a society? Can you tell us more about the post- show discussion that’s taking place on 9th July? Hopefully it will be a really interactive event where we can all have a passionate and open conversation about how the play makes us think and feel. I hope the production promotes challenging but important debates, and I look forward to hearing as many voices as possible. What’s the difference? + The award-winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is a cultural hub in the heart of a London park + Welcoming audiences since 1932, “This idyllic venue holds the potential to bewitch” ( The Times ) + A unique environment in which young people can discover one of the most beautifully crafted plays ever written Contact: Info and tickets: 0333 400 3562 education@ openairtheatre.com ABOUT KIMBERLEY: Kimberley Sykes is a theatre director and has previously held the roles of education associate practitioner for the RSC and connections director at the National Theatre NEED TO KNOW- Q&A