Theatre fans who were eagerly awaiting the premiere of British director Jamie Lloyd’s Romeo & Juliet production were left disappointed after the show was cancelled. According to Deadline, the Saturday night premiere at London’s Duke of York’s theatre did not go as planned due to production difficulties. The showmakers reportedly need more time to fine-tune the set. The ticket holders were informed of the show’s cancellation on Thursday. Now the next show is slated for May 23. The play has Spider-Man star Tom Holland as Romeo and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, best known for the comedy sitcom Bad Education, as Juliet.
The Jamie Lloyd Company announced the play back in February. Reportedly, all tickets for the multiple dates were sold out within two hours of their release. According to Deadline, an estimated 60,000 people joined a virtual ticket-buying queue for the show. The Shakespearean tragedy will play on multiple dates from May 11 (the first show was cancelled) till August 3.
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who is a black actor, received racially charged abuse after the play’s casting was announced. In response to the trolling and abuse, Jamie Lloyd Company released a statement condemning the “barrage of deplorable racial abuse”. The statement did not mention Francesca Amewudah-Rivers by name, but the company added that they would report any bullying and harassment.
The statement concluded, “Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion and kindness. we celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators. The Romeo & Juliet community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production.”
Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis shared an Instagram post in support of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.
Davis wrote, “Ability and talent are gifts that should not be seen or used as limitations because of Race. Perhaps the real question for those who took it upon themselves to spout this abuse is… ‘Why does it bother you so much?’ To the artists in this production and any other: SOAR, RISE, INSPIRE. Lay the seeds for the next generation so this narrative of nonsensical HATE can stop! And to Francesca, you are FRIGGIN’ BEAUTIFUL!!!!” She ended the post with an original line from Romeo and Juliet that said, “…she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!”
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