The Apollo presents a new imagining of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ from 1st-9th September with lots of unexpected and bold innovations, with a predominantly female cast.
Verona is full of rage, a divided city with death threats proudly shouted in the streets. As 2 families wage war, will a young couple become the next sacrifice of this brutal feud?
Get your tickets from http://www.apollo-theatre.org.uk or call 01983 210010.
Meanwhile, over at Bembridge Village Hall, GASP, who last year brought you the sell-out production of ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, are back with another G&S show – ‘Iolanthe’.
If you thought the mixing of imaginary and real worlds in the recent smash hit Barbie Movie was new, think again – Gilbert and Sullivan were doing it in 1882. Iolanthe, like Barbie, moves between the real world and her own, causing lots of hilarious nonsense while making some pointed observations about society.
25 years ago Iolanthe married a human and was banished from Fairyland. Now she is pardoned and able to introduce her son Strephon to her fairy sisters. Strephon’s top half is fairy, while his legs are human (just the start of the nonsensical fun) – a secret he has not shared with his beloved Phyllis, with whom he plans to elope in defiance of her guardian, the Lord Chancellor. However, Phyllis is furious when she sees Strephon familiarly chatting to his very young-looking fairy mother….so Strephon calls on his fairy family for help…. Will Strephon and Phyllis have their happy-ever-after? Will the Peers ever have the intelligence to know what’s going on?
All will be revealed at Bembridge Village Hall on 21st, 22nd and 23rd September at 19:30 with a 14:30 matinee on 24th.
Tickets are available now online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/gasp or call 07543 673117. You can also buy in person at Bembridge Library every Wednesday morning from 10-12.
Maureen Sullivan is a regular contributor to Island Echo’s coverage of the Arts on the Isle of Wight. Maureen has been actively involved in the Island’s amateur dramatics scene for several years, appearing in many different roles and guises with several theatre companies. In her free time, Maureen also writes and reviews at iwtheatre.org.
Catch Maureen’s column each month for the latest theatre and art happenings...
