& Juliet - UK Tour

★★★★★

If Shakespeare wrote for Britney, this would be the result – and honestly? It rocks. There are some nights at the theatre where you sit back, stroke your chin, and muse over existential metaphors. And then there are nights like & Juliet, where a confetti cannon explodes during a Backstreet Boys ballad and you find yourself overwhelmed with joy at a mash-up of ‘Teenage Dream’ and ‘Break Free’. Reader, I attended a Jukebox musical, and I survived!

Performers in colorful costumes dance energetically on a vibrant stage with dramatic lighting. The background features graffiti and stage props. — The cast of *& Juliet*

This glitter-drenched, heart-thumping jukebox musical asks one very important question: What if Juliet didn’t die? Instead, she dumps Romeo (who turns out to be a serial flirt), grabs her mates, and heads off to Paris (the place) to discover who she is beyond the balcony. Alongside her journey, we’re treated to more Max Martin bangers than a Now That’s What I Call Music CD. The hits don’t stop. You will sing. You will dance. You will question how ‘Since U Been Gone’ somehow feels like a Shakespearean text.

Gerardine Sacdalan’s Juliet is a force. It’s wild to think this is her professional debut because she performs like she’s been headlining the West End for years. Her vocals are flawless, her stage presence is captivating, and her journey from Verona to full-on main character energy is a delight to watch.

Jay McGuiness brings effortless charm as Shakespeare, who ends up writing the plot onstage with his long-suffering and wonderfully sassy wife Anne Hathaway, played by the scene-stealing Lara Denning. If you’ve ever wanted to watch a couple argue their way through a boyband medley, this one’s for you. Denning’s performance of the Celine Dion song ‘That’s The Way It Is’ is truly sublime, and earned the longest and loudest rapture of applause of the evening.

Smiling woman in pink sits by a floral-painted table with glowing lines and misty background. She holds a yellow item, creating a joyful mood. — Gerardine Sacalan as Juliet

Jordan Broatch brings a beautifully sensitive performance as May, and their tender rendition of ‘Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman’ gives such an interesting take on the lyrics. It has to be said Schitt’s Creek writer David West Read has done an unreal job weaving these pop bangers into the story. The lyrics either land with startling emotional relevance, as if they were written just for & Juliet, or hit as perfectly timed punchlines that leave the audience howling. When the book and musical arrangements are this in sync, it’s no wonder this has earned the honour of being my first-ever five-star jukebox musical. Miracles do happen… and apparently, this one comes with a glitter cannon.

The show is bursting with cheeky nods to Shakespeare’s greatest hits – from famous phrases he coined, to direct quotes lifted from the plays, and even a mini history lesson about his very complicated marriage. Admittedly, some of these moments feel a little shoehorned in (we get it, Will wrote a lot), but others are spot-on – like Anne Hathaway casually throwing “words, words, words” at her husband mid-argument. There’s a strong pantomime vibe running through the production too. Big, bold, over-the-top characters with cartoonish flair. At first, it’s a bit of a jolt, but once you realise it’s all part of the fun, you stop questioning it and start enjoying the ride.

Performer stands on a table pointing upward, surrounded by dancers. Vibrant costumes, vivid lighting, and a lively stage set create excitement. — The Cast of & Juliet

Kyle Cox is adorably awkward as François, bringing a sweet and sincere LGBTQ+ storyline to life with May. Their chemistry is warm, fuzzy, and heart-melting. Jack Danson’s Romeo is so cheeky and self-aware he practically winks at the audience with every line – it’s a joyfully daft performance that keeps the laughs rolling. But nothing quite prepares you for Lee Latchford-Evans (from Steps!) delivering a gloriously bonkers French accent as he rekindles his romance with Juliet’s nurse, played by the sensational Sandra Marvin. Marvin’s vocals are flawless, and her comic timing? Out of this world. It’s like watching Alison Hammond crash the RSC’s stage… and I mean that as a compliment.

Just when you think it can’t get any more unhinged, Latchford-Evans, McGuiness, Danson, Cox, and Broatch assemble as the “Du Bois Band” and tear the roof off with “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”. It’s chaos. It’s camp. And trust me, your eyes and ears will not be leaving that stage.

Four people joyfully ride a colorful, horse-shaped cart on stage with a vibrant blue-lit background. They appear excited and animated.

The real hero of this show is Max Martin’s ridiculous ability to write songs that define so many generations. From Katy Perry to Ariana Grande to Britney Spears, each number is reimagined with theatrical flair and zero shame. Don’t question why Juliet sings Roar after a breakup – just let it wash over you like a warm bath of millennial nostalgia. Don’t get me wrong, the person operating the spotlight was all over the place, the bass was so loud during some songs it drowned out the actors, and the constant flying of actors into the air on a chandelier or moon added absolutely nothing to the production, but I didn’t care.

Director Luke Sheppard keeps things moving at 100mph, and Jennifer Weber’s choreography feels like a TikTok dance battle crashed into a Shakespeare seminar, it’s completely bonkers – but that’s the point! This is theatre that knows exactly what it is and has no intention of apologising for it. Sure, it’s unashamedly cheesy. But it knows when to wink, when to swoon, and when to blast confetti into your face while declaring “I Want It That Way” as a feminist manifesto.

& Juliet isn’t just a night out, it’s a serotonin injection with a side of Shakespeare. Catch it on tour while you can. Your inner teenager will thank you.