Romeo Romeo
WorldSex/Gay
Romeo meets Julian Bourne's ballet for the first time
It's been more than 350 years since a young man trod the boards as Shakespeare's original tragic Juliet, disguised in heavy make up and a wig.
But history is about to repeat itself, with a man once more set to take on the famous role, only this time minus the wig and make-up. For the Bard's celebrated tale of the two star-cross'd lovers is being given a thoroughly modern make over, with Juliet set to become Julian. The choreographer Matthew Bourne, famous for retelling Swan Lake with bare-chested male swans, has reimagined Romeo and Juliet as a gay love story.
Romeo, Romeo will begin rehearsals sometime next year and will be based on Prokofiev's ballet. Mr Bourne, 47, said he hopes to rise to the challenge of portraying a convincing gay relationship through dance.
He said: "It's more to do with dancing than sexuality. A male dancer, whether he's gay or straight, fits into a relationship with a female partner very happily. Getting away from that, making a convincing love duet, a romantic, sexual duet for two men that is comfortable to do and comfortable to watch - I don't know if you can, I've never seen it done." If Romeo, Romeo repeats the success of Bourne's all-male Swan Lake it will be a global ballet blockbuster.
Swan Lake was first staged at London's Sadler Wells Theatre in 1995, going on to become the longest running ballet in the West End and on Broadway. But despite critical success Mr Bourne has long had concerns that it was short of being a true gay work of art, as many of the performers were not playing human beings. He said: "I have a way of approaching it so as to make it - I hate to say 'acceptable', it's a terrible thing to say - but so that people don't run screaming from the theatre.
"I let them find their own way with it, take it as far as they want in their own heads."
Bourne founded his dance company, Adventures in Motion Pictures, in 1987, finally retiring from dancing in 1999 to concentrate on choreography and direction. His last success was a ballet version of Edward Scissorhands. He also produced The Car Man, a steamy retelling of Bizet's Carmen set in dusty midwestern America.
Although the gay twist in this latest project is bound to spark controversy, the two young lovers may find they are not the only gays in fair Verona.
There has long been scholarly speculation about the sexuality of many of the lead male characters, especially Mercutio, Romeo's best friend, and Benvolio, his cousin. Since the play was first published in 1598 it has been a source of inspiration for musicians and, more recently, film-makers.
Romeo Romeo
It's been more than 350 years since a young man trod the boards as Shakespeare's original tragic Juliet, disguised in heavy make up and a wig.
But history is about to repeat itself, with a man once more set to take on the famous role, only this time minus the wig and make-up. For the Bard's celebrated tale of the two star-cross'd lovers is being given a thoroughly modern make over, with Juliet set to become Julian. The choreographer Matthew Bourne, famous for retelling Swan Lake with bare-chested male swans, has reimagined Romeo and Juliet as a gay love story.
Romeo, Romeo will begin rehearsals sometime next year and will be based on Prokofiev's ballet. Mr Bourne, 47, said he hopes to rise to the challenge of portraying a convincing gay relationship through dance.
He said: "It's more to do with dancing than sexuality. A male dancer, whether he's gay or straight, fits into a relationship with a female partner very happily. Getting away from that, making a convincing love duet, a romantic, sexual duet for two men that is comfortable to do and comfortable to watch - I don't know if you can, I've never seen it done." If Romeo, Romeo repeats the success of Bourne's all-male Swan Lake it will be a global ballet blockbuster.
Swan Lake was first staged at London's Sadler Wells Theatre in 1995, going on to become the longest running ballet in the West End and on Broadway. But despite critical success Mr Bourne has long had concerns that it was short of being a true gay work of art, as many of the performers were not playing human beings. He said: "I have a way of approaching it so as to make it - I hate to say 'acceptable', it's a terrible thing to say - but so that people don't run screaming from the theatre.
"I let them find their own way with it, take it as far as they want in their own heads."
Bourne founded his dance company, Adventures in Motion Pictures, in 1987, finally retiring from dancing in 1999 to concentrate on choreography and direction. His last success was a ballet version of Edward Scissorhands. He also produced The Car Man, a steamy retelling of Bizet's Carmen set in dusty midwestern America.
Although the gay twist in this latest project is bound to spark controversy, the two young lovers may find they are not the only gays in fair Verona.
There has long been scholarly speculation about the sexuality of many of the lead male characters, especially Mercutio, Romeo's best friend, and Benvolio, his cousin. Since the play was first published in 1598 it has been a source of inspiration for musicians and, more recently, film-makers.
Romeo Romeo
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