Of all Shakespeare’s 38 plays, Romeo and Juliet is arguably the one best suited for a ballet adaption. BIG Live, also known as Ballet International Gala, have done just that, presenting ‘The Greatest Love Story of All Time’ at the Capitol Theatre Sydney, on Valentine’s Day.
The ensemble of dancers is made up of international guests and alumni from English National Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Ankara State Opera and Ballet, and Stuttgart Ballet. They are led by BIG’s Artistic Director Joel Burke, as Romeo, Emilia Bignami, as Juliet, and Ervin Zagidullin, as the fiery Tybalt.
As well as playing the lead role and being AD of the company, Joel Burke pulls triple duty as Choreographer. His keen eye for dramatic movement to tell the story and moments of stillness and emotion to reveal character draws the audience into a story they are already quite familiar with. But he has made it feel fresh, lavish and extravagant.
Burke takes us to the highest of highs with the lovers’ beautifully elegant pas de deux so that the emotional gut punches hit even harder. I appreciated how each character has at least one distinct movement that they repeat so the audience can follow along.
Romeo has his high jumps and quick spins. Tybalt has his enraged body-hunched curl, and Juliet has her fast-paced retreating tiptoe shuffle. With the help of the rest of the cast, they dazzle their way through Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy, and by the end, our hearts ache for the lovers that could have been.
The grandiose set design by Ben Hambling provides much depth and breadth for the performers to dance their way through. The most memorable set pieces are the two-tiered stairs at the back of the stage, Juliet’s super-king-sized bed and the Capulets grave monument.
The dynamic lighting design by Ryan McDonald fills the stage with warm and cool tones, effectively elevating the already heightened material. The stark contrast between the Capulets and Montagues is revealed in both their costumes and in the way the lights react to their entrances, fights and eventual deaths.
Coming out of the theatre, everyone was talking about two moments. The Tybalt-Mercutio fight and the Romeo-Juliet final dance.
The opening fight scene between the two warring families introduces the swordplay ‘language’ and perfectly sets up the Tybalt-Mercutio fight. The combination of choreography, set, lights and performance culminates in a well-orchestrated, high-impact, tit-for-tat that holds the audiences’ gaze and attention, even though they know the outcome.
Furthermore, the iconic balcony scene similarly brings the star-crossed lovers together for the first time, only to have the characters desperately try to mirror those same movements after Romeo drinks the poison. The traditional leaps and spins turn to slow, staggered slumps around the stage as Romeo dies and Juliet tries to save him.
In their last dance together, we see and feel every moment of anguish, heartbreak, longing, and devastation. I only wish Juliet could’ve had a solo after Romeo succumbs to his wounds so we could watch her go through the gambit of emotions before choosing to take her own life. But, then again, if a show leaves me wanting more, it has succeeded in drawing me in and investing in the story.
Despite its short season, this mini-national tour is a great way to support a family-owned ballet company that is also Australia’s fastest-growing. The ‘love that defies all’ is coming to a city near you soon. You don’t want to miss it!
Romeo and Juliet is on now at the Capitol Theatre Sydney, with one show remaining tonight before it embarks on a national tour.
Tour details:
Adelaide: 11-12 April, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Melbourne: 26 April, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
Hobart: 3-4 May, Theatre Royal
Newcastle (NEW CITY JUST ADDED): 24 May, Civic Theatre
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/romeo-and-juliet-tickets/artist/804245
Website: https://www.bigliveco.com/romeo-and-juliet-2025
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/balletinternationalgala/
Photo credits: Cloud Nine Productions
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