Featured Show: Romeo and Juliet: Pride Edition
Kelvin Players bring a Pride edition of one of Shakespeare’s most-loved plays
In celebration of national Pride Month as well as Bristol Pride in early July, a Bristol theatre company is putting a sapphic spin on their summer Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet.
Directors Chris Hawkins and Sarah Lawrence, say the Kelvin Players’ production of William Shakespeare’s script and plot will remain the same. Queerness, even in 2025 is still “much maligned” which brings a fresh element to the tale of “forbidden love”.
Caroline Bracher takes on the role of Romeo opposite Elsa Cleaver’s Juliet.
Whilst the jury is still out on Shakespeare’s sexual identity, the play itself contains plenty of references to same-sex love as well as jokes and innuendo which makes the play perfect for a queer interpretation.
“Our production is colourful, giddy, and, of course, tragic,” director Sarah Lawrence says. “It is actually a very funny script, and we’ve leaned into that somewhat because we really wanted to capture that feeling of new love – and young love – so that our audiences come along on the journey with these characters that they know and love so well.”
Co-director Chris Hawkins said the energy of the rehearsals had been one of “pure joy”.
The Kelvin Players have been running for nearly 100 years in the North of Bristol, managing to turn around six high-quality shows every year.
For those who love a bit of Shakespeare, the company will also be performing The Tempest from 02 – 13 December 2025.
The Kelvin Player’s Romeo and Juliet runs from 24 June – 05 July 2025
Get £10 tickets for all Tuesday – Thursday shows with the code MIDWEEK10 – offer valid until 19 June 2025
For more information or to book, visit: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kelvinplayers
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