The lead roles are cast and rehearsals will begin early in 2010 for Shropshire Drama Company’s (SDC) next production – William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Directed by Joanna Purslow and Rosalind Garrard, the outdoor performance will take place on 14 -19 June at the Holy Trinity Church green in Much Wenlock as part of the town’s biennial arts festival.
The two actors to play Romeo and Juliet are Michael Beasley and Zoe Vernon. Michael is 17 years old and studying a national diploma in musical theatre at Shrewsbury College. Zoe is also 17 and her studies include A level drama, history and English literature at Wem Sixth Form College. Both have applied to drama colleges with the aim of starting in September 2010.
Chosen from 20 young people who attended an audition in Theatre Severn’s dance studio at the end of September, co-director Joanna Purslow, said: “The response we had and the level of commitment and talent shown by the young people attending the audition was very encouraging, as was the interest shown by the everyone attending the subsequent audition for the rest of the cast. Michael and Zoe have a great chemistry, which we hope to express in greater depth when they take on the roles of Romeo and Juliet. It is always an exciting period leading up to a major production, seeing how it takes shape and how the actors develop their roles, and this is no exception.”
Picture: Zoe Vernon (Juliet) and Michael Beasley (Romeo).
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