The Romeo and Juliet Project
All about the 2006 Romeo and Juliet Project...
Most recently the Research and Performance module I taught comprised of an all-female group. In the spring 2006 we explored Japanese performer training and theatre techniques and applied our work to a production of Romeo and Juliet performed in Roborough Studios in Exeter, June 2006.
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Two Houses, both alike in dignity...
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For the Romeo and Juliet Project the 23 female performers were divided into two character groups: Romeo and Juliet. Each group focused on devising scenes that told each character's story seperately in order to highlight the conditions of gender roles in Verona, and how these socially perscribed roles influenced the characters action, motivations, experience and fate.
The Romeo Group
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Within each group many women chose to play Male characters and this involved intensive gender performance practice conducted through seminars, workshops, rehearsals, training, and private coaching from Terri.
The Women Playing Men: Technique
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Using the technical training methods of Tadashi Suzuki and Yoshi Oida, the 'Romeo's' (as the women playing the male roles came to be called) worked towards a highly disciplined and powerful movement. They created male katas and used this form to embody the masculinity of this asian influenced Verona.
Fighting as Men: Tybalt Vs. Mercutio
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To assist in helping the women fight as men, Ivan Zizek from the Globe Education in London lent his expertise and staff fighting experience. Ivan works with Philip Stafford at the Globe, and help transform the women into very fierce fighters. During one of the performances they even broke the staff!
Kabuki Warriors!
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Inspired by the makeup and aesthetics of Kabuki characters, the makeup team used images like this one (created by Ali Beaumont) as an inspiration. The makeup served to not only look highly theatrical and visually stunning but also served to masculinize the women's facial features and aided in their cross-casting and shared role play.
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