New beginnings and the intoxication of pop hits
What if Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet didn’t end in death, but Juliet survived the tragedy?
This is the question posed in The Musical & Julia, in which William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway rewrite the ending of the classic – and give Juliet the opportunity to choose differently and start over.
“The love story of Romeo and Juliet lasts three days. Even though its ending feels hopeless, this story examines how a young person finds hope and moves on with their life,” says director Samuel Harjanne.
There are many levels that run side by side in the musical. At the center is Julia’s story, where she takes her fate into her own hands. Shakespeare and Hathaway brainstorm, write and comment on this new story, which is performed on stage by Shakespeare’s theatre troupe.
& Juliet premiered in 2019 at the Opera House in Machester, from where it moved to the West End at the end of the same year and to Broadway in 2022. The musical was written by David West Read, also known for the popular Netflix comedy series Schitt’s Creek.
More Than a Hit Cavalcade & Julia is an energetic jukebox musical where the 16th century theatre world meets the disco and party aesthetics of the 2000s. The music consists of world-famous hits by the Swedish Max Martin.
“It’s one of the geniuses of the story that they feel so far away from each other, but they are like two berries. The juxtaposition works excellently,” Harjanne says.
The musical features unforgettable songs that Martin has written for Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry and Pink, among others. “If Shakespeare was a pop icon of the 16th century, then Max Martin really is the one of the 90s and 00s. Perhaps he is the Shakespeare of our time,” Harjanne suggests.
In Harjanne’s opinion, the familiar pop classics have been woven into the story so skilfully that the musical makes you listen to their lyrics with new ears.
“I was stunned by how you start to treat songs differently. What they actually say is terribly great.”
Living on her own terms & Julia updates the classic to the present day by challenging the idea that a woman’s story is dependent on a man. In the new version of Julia, she learns to listen to herself and make her own choices. In Harjanne’s opinion, the work can also encourage viewers to live on their own terms.
“No matter what age or gender you are, trust yourself, believe in yourself and listen to yourself, not others. I think one of the big themes comes from the lyrics of Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life: live when you have the opportunity.”
The musical reminds us that you can always choose differently and change the direction of your life.
“The fact that Julia chooses life can be a door to some kind of creative thinking. Maybe it makes you think about whether things have to go the way you are used to,” Harjanne ponders.
Although the work is intelligent and insightful, it is also full of joyful pop joy.
“We have a strong atmosphere with the team, so I would be surprised if the crowd didn’t go wild. This will definitely make me feel good and a proper nostalgia trip.”
Text by Ida Henritius.