One of the highlights of this year’s Term 3 Drama Festival is undoubtedly going to be R&J, a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, which is set in Exeter Uni’s very own Lemmy. Inspired by the ‘lad’ culture of Exeter Uni, complete with ‘EGs’, a deadly mix of alcohol, hatred and lust will ensure this production will be anything but boring! HCX have an exclusive interview with R&J’s stars:
Name: Heidi Lawry and Philippe Edwards
Year: 2nd and 1st
Subject: Both doing drama
Tell us a bit about the production:
Philippe: Shakespeare’s greatest Love Story adapted into a drunken university club night.
Heidi: Yeah, it’s about a night out in Exeter gone horribly wrong. As some of us know, it’s easy for a boozy night to turn sour… I broke my arm on the last night of Freshers, at the Lemmy – ironic I know!
Do you get nervous before a performance? If so, how do you combat that?
P: Yes, extremely, still have found no way of combating it.
H: I’m usually okay actually – our directors, Dan and Tom, do great warm-ups to get us in the zone.
Have you had any embarrassing moments onstage?
H: When I played Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz, Toto pissed all over the stage in the very last scene of the final performance. That was embarrassing!
P: Equus. Fantastic play, but having to pretend to get naked and get off on a horse, screaming ‘I want to be in you’ at the top of my lungs was a bit much for a 16 year old.
What’s your favourite thing to do in Exeter?
H: Going down to the quay, playing tennis when it’s sunny, socials (especially with our cast) and hanging out with my housemates
You have to kiss onstage, what’s that like?
H: Obviously it’s a bit weird at first, but then you get used to it! I think you just have to be professional about it.
Who would be your dream Romeo, Heidi?
H: A young Jon Hamm (Don Draper from Mad Men).
Lastly, why should people come and see R&J?
P: Everyone knows the play; it’s the most famous love story of all time. But no one has ever seen it like this.
H: Plus the bar will be open on the night!
If the lovely Heidi and Philippe have enticed you to come and experience R&J, which is taking place on the 23rd and 24th of May at 6.30 and 9.00 p.m, visit http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/drama/whatson/ to book tickets.
Photo credit – http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/th…