This week, & Juliet exploded onto the stage at Theatre Royal Nottingham with bold colour, powerful pop music, and a clear feminist message: Juliet doesn’t need to die for love—she can rewrite her own story.
This reimagined version of Romeo and Juliet asks a simple but radical question: what if Juliet chose to live? What follows is a smart, funny, and empowering musical that puts a young woman in charge of her own destiny.
Gerardine Sacdalan shone in the lead role, showing strength, independence, and brilliant vocals. Her performances of “…Baby One More Time” and “Roar” weren’t just crowd-pleasers—they were moments of real emotional power, as Juliet chooses self-worth over heartbreak.
The show also challenged the traditional male voice of storytelling. Jay McGuiness brought plenty of charm to Shakespeare, but it was Lara Denning’s Anne Hathaway who took control of the plot. Her character steps in to change the ending, proving that women’s voices are just as important—and sometimes even wiser—than the ones we’ve always been told to listen to.
There were cast changes on the night: Liam Morris played Romeo with great comic timing, perfectly balancing charm with cluelessness. Juliet’s growth didn’t rely on him at all, which made her journey even more inspiring. Andile Mabhena (Richard) and Joe Wolstenholme (Augustine) added energy and humour to the ensemble, keeping the pace high and the laughs frequent.
Jordan Broatch’s performance as May added an extra layer of modern feminism to the show—exploring gender identity with care and honesty. Their solo moment, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,” was beautifully done, and clearly resonated with many in the audience.
The mix of sparkling visuals, energetic choreography, and massive pop hits (like “Stronger” and “Since U Been Gone”) backed up the message that women can own their stories—and don’t have to follow the path laid out by tradition.
& Juliet is more than a feel-good musical. It’s a feminist re-telling that celebrates freedom, friendship, and finding your voice. A must-see for anyone who’s ever questioned what “happily ever after” should really look like.
