Real-life romance in Hull Truck production of Romeo & Juliet

STAR-CROSSED LOVERS: Jordan Metcalfe and Laura Elsworthy as Romeo & Juliet. Picture by Hull Truck Theatre

There will be an added frisson to one of the greatest love stories ever told when Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet is performed in Hull this summer.

The title roles in the Hull Truck Theatre production will be performed by a real-life couple - Jordan Metcalfe and Laura Elsworthy - two Hull-born actors who were married in Shakespeare’s home county of Stratford-upon-Avon.

It will be the first time they have performed as a couple on stage.

Although they grew up around the corner from each other, they became a couple when they returned to Hull in 2017 to perform in The Hypocrite during the Hull City of Culture celebrations. They married the following year while Laura was performing for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The show, which runs from July 15 to August 7, is being performed in the stunning al fresco location of Stage @TheDock in Hull’s Fruit Market area, as the streets of Verona are transported to the waterfront stage of what was once Hull’s Central Dry Dock.

The play will be staged in traverse - meaning the audience will be sat on either side of the stage, similar to a catwalk, and close to the action.

It will be the biggest by Hull Truck since live performances were allowed to resume after the lifting of Covid restrictions.

It is being performed as part of Hull Truck’s socially distanced Homecomings Season. The theatre recently opened the doors of its Ferensway home in the city centre after 15 months of closure caused by the pandemic.

Stage @TheDock. Picture by Neil Holmes Photography

Shakespeare’s timeless tale of passion and tragedy, set in a divided society, is as fresh and relevant now as it has ever been, the company said.

Mark Babych, artistic director of Hull Truck Theatre, said: “After such a difficult year for everyone, it’s thrilling to be able to bring Shakespeare’s most famous love story to the dramatic setting of Hull’s iconic Stage @TheDock.

“This production, led by two local powerhouse performers, marks my first foray into outdoor theatre and I can’t wait to start rehearsals and share this timeless tale with our amazing audiences.”

Hull audiences may remember Jordan and Laura from the 2017 productions of The Hypocrite and The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca, although the couple have a wealth of experience between them, spanning not only theatre, but across film and television.

At a young age, Jordan starred as Jake in The Queen’s Nose, and most recently played Huck in Casualty. Laura recently featured on ITV2 as recurring character, Maya, in Plebs, and also appeared in the live-action remake of Cinderella in 2015.

The production is being supported by Wykeland Group.

Wykeland events co-ordinator Natalia Cleary said: “We’re delighted our support has enabled Hull Truck Theatre to move outdoors and stage its biggest production since live performances were allowed to resume.

“We’re providing our Stage @TheDock venue in the Fruit Market as in-kind support, as well as use of our new C4DI building just yards away as a rehearsal space in the weeks leading up to the production, as part of our commitment to the revival of the arts and culture in Hull following the pandemic.

“This partnership with Hull Truck will introduce many more people to Stage @TheDock as a unique performance space perfect for these socially distanced times.

“The location is also ideal, with so many great restaurants, bars and cultural venues in the Fruit Market for audience members to visit before or after the performances, and the Fruit Market multi-storey car park just yards from Stage @TheDock.”

For more information, dates and tickets, visit www.hulltruck.co.uk