Hull Truck Theatre present open-air production of Romeo & Juliet with local actors in title roles
08 Jun 2021 | General News
The title roles will be played by Jordan Metcalfe and Laura Elsworthy – who audiences will recognise from The Hypocrite and The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca, both performed in 2017 as part of the Hull City of Culture celebrations. The theatre recently opened the doors of their Ferensway home after 15 months of closure, due to the pandemic. Whilst the socially distanced Homecomings Season continues at the theatre this summer, the company are delighted to present Shakespeare’s tragic love story in the stunning al fresco surroundings of Stage @TheDock, supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Wykeland Group. The two lead actors, both born and bred in Hull, have a wealth of experience between them spanning not only Theatre, but across Film and Television. At a young age, Jordan starred as Jake in The Queen’s Nose and has most recently played Huck in Casualty. Laura recently featured on ITV2 as recurring character, Maya in Plebs and also appeared in the live-action remake of Cinderella in 2015. This is the first time they will be playing a couple on stage, in one of the greatest and most-renowned love stories ever told. A play very fitting since their own offstage love story is pretty magical in itself. Although they grew up around the corner from each other, they became a couple when they returned to Hull in 2017, to perform in The Hypocrite. In the summer of 2018, they married in Shakespeare’s home county of Stratford-upon-Avon whilst Laura was performing in Miss Littlewood for the Royal Shakespeare Company. This summer, the streets of Verona are transported to Hull, in the breath-taking surroundings of Stage @TheDock, a converted dockyard space that perfectly embodies Hull’s industrial past, present and future. Romeo & Juliet will be staged in traverse - meaning the audience will be sat on either side of the stage, similar to a catwalk, and close to the action. Shakespeare’s timeless tale of passion and tragedy, set in a divided society, is as fresh and relevant now as it has ever been. "After such a difficult year for everyone, it’s thrilling to be able to bring Shakespeare’s most famous love story to the dramatic setting of Hull’s iconic Stage @TheDock. This production, led by two local powerhouse performers, marks my first foray into outdoor theatre and I can’t wait to start rehearsals and share this timeless tale with our amazing audiences.” "Our cultural sector is at the heart of our local communities providing not only entertainment but education and inspiration for many. Our Trustees were impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit shown across the arts in response to Covid-19 and it was a privilege to hear what organisations had been doing to not only survive but also to reinvent the way they reach audiences.” Philippa Charles, Director of Weston Culture Fund "We’re delighted our support has enabled Hull Truck Theatre to move outdoors and stage its biggest production since live performances were allowed to resume. We’re providing our Stage @TheDock venue in the Fruit Market as in kind support, as well as use of our new C4DI building just yards away as a rehearsal space in the weeks leading up to the production, as part of our commitment to the revival of the arts and culture in Hull following the pandemic.” Natalia Cleary, Events Co-ordinator of Wykeland Group
For more information, dates and tickets, visit https://www.hulltruck.co.uk/whats-on/drama/romeo-juliet/
Mark Babych, Artistic Director of Hull Truck Theatre
