Romeo and Juliet, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Romeo and Juliet, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford

Director Nancy Meckler's Romeo and Juliet had to be something special to launch The Complete Works Festival.

Drenched in warm Mediterranean hues with the lulling sound of cicadas the setting, using a play within a play style, belies what is a particularly emotionally devastating production of Shakespeare's first great tragedy.

Meckler's decision to cast two RSC debutants in the title roles pays off as Rupert Evans and Morven Christie initially prove to be the epitome of innocence.

The fighting scenes are portrayed through tap dance and the use of sticks, held as weapons, being beat on the ground. The opening scene felt especially like a nod towards West Side Story but its use during Romeo's thunderous slaying of Tybalt took it to another level. This moment, as Romeo concludes "stained the childhood of our joy" and moves the play to even darker territory.

Lighter moments come from Sorcha Cusack and David Fielder, both excellent as Nurse and Friar Laurence, and from Jamie Ballard as Mercutio, who surely leaves no doubt that his character is in love with Romeo.

The final scene, where the clustered mourners move slowly as a single entity around the lifeless bodies of the young lovers is striking and beautifully composed - a fitting end to a visually indulgent experience that will leave you exhausted.

Review by LOUISE BARNSLEY