On the 19th of March, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre was host to ‘Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Romeo and Juliet’, directed by Lucy Cuthbertson. The absorbing modernisation of this 16th-century play seamlessly brought it into a modern-day setting, showing the timelessness of the story and the issues present within it. Additionally, this new angle on the violence shown made it easier for students to understand, as the context of the play was more recognisable. The performance of every actor was fantastic, bringing both the humour of the play’s first half and the tragedy of its second half to life. Grace Webb, a local student, found the play ‘super interesting’, noting that it was ‘different’ from the other versions of Romeo and Juliet that she had watched.

This performance was designed for the deaf or hard of hearing. Around the amphitheatre screens showing subtitles for each line and sound effect were positioned. Additionally, British Sign Language interpreters were present on the stage for the majority of the play, weaved masterfully into the performance. They moved with the actors, sometimes interacting with them, seamlessly adding a new dimension to the play. While people may initially think of these accommodations as distracting, they greatly aided the understanding of many audience members, helping them keep track of which character was saying which line.

The modernised setting was achieved perfectly in the design: Montagues sported tracksuits, an intimidating cyclist moved around the theatre, and a ‘Mantua Eats’ delivery driver even made an appearance. The set also conveyed the effects of the tragic violence occurring between the two families; a memorial to those killed was constantly present at the back of the stage, with flowers and photos being added throughout. This image was much more recognisable to the audience than the play's original gold statue, making the events more relatable. With these genius changes in design, designer Natalie Pryce showed how Romeo and Juliet transcends time, as the timeless tale fits into every era.