For the Shed’s first attempt to reach out to a family audience it has opted for Romeo and Juliet, streamlined into an hour-long version by Ben Power for those with children aged eight and over. Unfortunately, the heavily cut, partly-updated script and muddled execution make the play more baffling than accessible.
Things are problematic from the off in Bijan Sheibani’s production. With less than 60 minutes to tell the tragedy, it pads its limited time with awkward attempts at audience interaction, along with unwelcome bursts of Adele (Someone Like You, if you’re asking).
When the plot does kick into gear, Tendayi Jembere and Natalie Dew make affectionate leads but we’re hurtled though their story with little time to establish who’s doing what or why. “Just because” will have to do.
The design by Becs Andrews contributes a vibrant visual flare — balloons, bubbles, confetti, glitter, fairy lights etc — but the overload of colours and non-stop noise further blurs a production that is already out of focus. The play improves towards the end when it slows down and stops shying away from Shakespeare’s text. The distressing final moments hint towards a better production that might have been.
Until August 18 (020 7452 3244, national theatre.org.uk)
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