Guests thronged the foyer at St Swithun’s School Harvey Hall performing arts centre for the school’s opening 
performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet on Wednesday 28th November.
The St Swithun’s cast were joined for this production by a number of boys from Winchester College, Perins in Alresford and Kings’, Winchester.
All participants delivered their lines, numerous in cases, with aptly measured theatrical expression. Juliet, played by Mia Vallance, Year 10, was a natural for the role, showing teenage frustrations towards Nurse (Izzy Arquier, Year 11, from Lymington) and her parents Lord and Lady Capulet (Sam Groom from Winchester College and Mhairi Brannigan, Year 10, from Winchester) but real tenderness for her Romeo (Zac Tiplady from Winchester College).
Nurse lightened the sombre mood with her skilfully acted comic elements, as did Mercutia (Zainab Pampam, Year 11) who excelled with her comic timing and expression. Jodie Russell, Year 11 from Winchester was superb as Benvolia, as was the benevolent and calming Revd Lauren played by Hatty Haines, Year 13, from Farnham.
The modern interpretation of this well-known play was enjoyed by audience and cast alike; the cast looked at home in their street fashion and a motley collection of fancy-dress for the party scene; buskers appeared and played randomly on the street corners and the predominantly dim lighting created the appropriately menacing mood.
The numerous fight scenes were exciting and authentic and a whole cast dance to a live cover of the aptly named Rihanna’s We found love in a hopeless place was expertly choreographed by Jess Parker, Year 10 from Hook.
Director and head of drama at St Swithun’s Ms Tracy Spring was very proud of her company’s work to provide such high quality entertainment for the school community.