Russell Kane to star in Romeo and Juliet reboot

3 hours ago

Richard PriceWest Midlands

News image — Russell Kane is set to star as Romeo at the New Vic this September

BBC Russell Kane, a man wearing a white t-shirt and a black jacket is gesticulating with his hands as he talks into a microphone. He is pictured against a brightly coloured backdrop which is yellow and has additional block colour elements. — Russell Kane is set to star as Romeo at the New Vic this September

Russell Kane is due to make his theatre debut in a "striking new take" on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet later this year.

The comedian will take on the part of Romeo when the play is performed at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, with further casting yet to be announced.

Romeo and Juliet is being staged as a collaboration between the venue and theatre company Not Too Tame.

Their retelling imagines the star-crossed lovers meeting later in life, repositioning the story from a perspective of age and experience, with the title characters aged in their 40s.

The theatre itself also enters its fourth decade this year, with other highlights of its autumn season including the stage premiere of Stoke-on-Trent born Oscar winner Rachel Shenton's Gladstone Girls.

The play is set in the Potteries and explores the lives of a group of female pottery workers determined to protect their cherished "Curl Friday" factory tradition.

"I'm beyond excited to bring Gladstone Girls to the New Vic stage," Shenton said.

"The play is based on a true story, it's good fun and is very close to my heart.

"To have it come to life in my home town, at a theatre that's known for producing bold, fresh work - is a dream come true."

Theresa Heskins, a woman wearing a black top, is standing next to a wall which is decorated with tiles that have various phrases and captions on them. She is looking at the camera and smiling. — Artistic director Theresa Heskins says the venue takes a lot of pride in the significance of the plays staged there

"We take a lot of pride in delivering productions that carry local significance, so to bring this new play [Gladstone Girls] based on the unshakeable community spirit of the pottery industry to the stage for the first time is a real honour," Heskins said.

"I'm delighted that in our 40th anniversary year, we're announcing a programme that will showcase our core values - that everyone should have access to great theatre; that local talent should be prized and nurtured; that young people's first experiences of theatre should inspire them with a lifetime's love for it."

Heskins has also adapted - and will be directing - the return of one of the theatre's most popular Christmas productions, The Borrowers.

Tickets for the New Vic Theatre's forthcoming season go on general sale on 25 March.

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