The curtain falls and Romeo and Juliet are lying on a morgue table, their bodies intertwined and soaked in blood.
A huge sign reading ‘Verona Institute’ can be seen behind them, set above what appears to be the white-tiled walls of a psychiatric hospital.
In true Matthew Bourne style, it's immediately clear this isn’t going to be the classic love story we all know so well.
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The modern interpretation of the original Shakespeare play came to The Lowry theatre in Salford on Wednesday, July 12.
The re-telling of an ageless tale garnered universal critical acclaim when it first premiered in 2019 and has returned for a new UK tour.
As the bodies of Romeo and Juliet disappear into the darkness, young patients dressed in white march out onto the stage as they’re handed pills by nurses.
Juliet, played by Cordelia Braithwaite is harassed and later sexually assaulted by male guard Tybalt – an attack that would come back to haunt her later in the story.
Romeo, played by Paris Fitzpatrick, arrives at the institute after being dropped off by his famous politician parents.
The star-crossed lovers eventually meet at a party under the watchful eye of hospital staff – later sneaking off and locking lips for the first time.
The pair come together for a passionate and sensual dance where they manage to somehow continuously roll around on the floor without breaking their kiss.
The couple are hopelessly in love – but it won’t last. Tybalt, played by Danny Reubens, stumbles upon them while drunk and breaks down in tears.
Humiliated by the patients laughing around him, he pulls out a gun and Mercutio is killed in the scuffle.
The patients come together to strangle Tybalt with a belt before fleeing the room and Romeo is left to blame.
In the final act, the lovers can be seen in separate wards and Juliet has a stolen knife under her pillow.
Romeo’s time at the institution has come to an end and his parents arrive to collect him. However, he pretends to be mad in order to stay at the hospital and is returned after his parents write a substantial cheque.
The pair are finally reunited after a kind reverend leads Juliet to Romeo’s room. They dance together before falling asleep in Romeo’s bed.
But we know this story won’t end well. Juliet suddenly wakes in the night and is startled by the ghost of Tybalt stood in the doorway.
Though it’s all in her head, horrified Juliet grabs the knife and tries to fend off her attacker and accidentally stabs Romeo in the process.
She clings to her dying lover before his body turns limp and lifeless. Utterly distraught, Juliet picks up the knife and plunges it into her own chest.
The standing ovation at the end of the show said it all. Collaborating with the New Adventures Artistic team and with Terry Davies’ orchestrations of Prokofiev’s dynamic score, Bourne’s take on this overworked story made it feel completely brand new.
Romeo + Juliet is playing at The Lowry until July 15. For more information, click here.
