Nottingham youngsters to appear in RSC tour of Romeo and Juliet

Published: 7 December 2018
Reporter: Steve Orme

Teacher Zoe Ambrose (centre) and the eight young people from Bluecoat Beechdale Academy who will appear in Romeo and Juliet at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham

Eight young people from Bluecoat Beechdale Academy in Bilborough will join the professional cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Romeo and Juliet at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.

The academy is part of the RSC’s associate schools programme. In two teams of four, the youngsters will share the role of the chorus, each team taking part in three or four performances.

They are Shanyce Hodge, Lisa Kimani, Karina Bierley, Sinead Willbye, Hollie Larcombe, Alaska Puglsey and Kane Smith who are all 14 and Joseph Leverton who is 15.

Erica Whyman, the production’s director, said, “we were bowled over by the impact our tour of A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation had on the young people who took part and those who came to watch as we crossed the UK.

“I want to build on that hugely positive experience as we stage Romeo and Juliet, opening up a dialogue with young people in schools in ways we’ve never been able to do. By inviting these young people to join us on stage I want to celebrate the diverse talent of the UK and highlight the revolutionary heart of this most timeless love story.”

Zoe Ambrose, drama teacher and lead teacher of the RSC associate schools programme at Bluecoat Beechdale Academy, commented, “I’m extremely delighted that our students have been given this opportunity of a lifetime.

“The connections we’ve built with the RSC over the past year have been invaluable. The students are thrilled at the prospect of performing alongside professional RSC actors on the Theatre Royal stage. I have every confidence that they’ll do themselves and the academy proud.”

Romeo and Juliet will run at the Theatre Royal from Tuesday 19 until Saturday 23 February 2019.

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