The rain held on, the blanket wrapped around but didn't feel the cold as the fire and action kept us going. The sound and scenery matched the wonderful performances. See it!

First of all this should not be described as "Shakespeare's" R&J - this is a derivative work reinterpreting the play with political slogans, a focus on mental illness and with a kick-boxing Juliet who has been aged up to 16. The director subjects us to a tirade of inane political messages such as 'In a Patriarchy Violence is deemed "normal"'. But who said that, when? why? For goodness sake - don't insult our intelligence - and allow us to think for ourselves (were you talking about the Pope and the Catholic church by the way?). And how can you have the party scene where they meet with virtually all of the original text evicerated and a bland over-loud song and rap-off instead? However as the production went on more of the original text began to be featured and the strength of the individual performances shone through. We weren't to be realised from didacticism though - the end is not about the lovers - it is about helping the troubled to reach out to support organisations. The cast are great - they are not to blame.

It is just awful. Banal and disconnected. The premise is reasonably interesting. That it is less a romantic story and more one of the actions of disturbed teenagers. But the execution is crass in the extreme. It feels like a very poor school production. The cast are fine but the writer and director are out of their depth. And the artistic director of the Globe has nothing to be proud of after letting this travesty see the light of day.