Russell Kane is set to play the romantic lead in a radical retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The comedian, who turned 50 last year, will star alongside Natalie Casey, known for Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, who plays his doomed lover.
In this version, the couple are in their 40s and have never found love before. Their families run different aspects of construction, with Juliet under pressure to marry Paris to seal an important deal, or risk being cast out.
A new take on star-crossed lovers
Kane expressed surprise that no one had approached the play this way before. 'We've had different religions, genders and sexes loads of times, but nobody's had the star-crossed lovers as people in later life,' he said.
He added: 'I think 40 is a good age for them because “young” has just finished, but “old” has not begun. And if you haven't genuinely known true love, at that age, how tragic is that? If you ask people who are 30, 40, 50, 60 if they've ever been in love and they say, “I think so, I'm not sure,” you know that means they haven't, and that is really sad.'
A shorter, sharper production
The production will run no longer than two hours, unlike some versions that last three. 'You should be on the edge of your f***ing seat,' Kane said. 'It's a combination of sharing time with a man, discovering who he is, and also voyeuristically watching a love story play out.'
He hopes to depict his Romeo as a party animal who flits from woman to woman, never settling down or feeling real love. 'Maybe he doesn't love himself enough,' he said.
From comedy to straight role
Kane, who won the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2010, said this is his first proper straight role since becoming a household name. 'I always get sent for ugly, funny best friend parts in Richard Curtis-type films. And when I get there, I do well in the audition, but the other uglier, funnier-looking bloke always gets it,' he said.
The role came after he was spotted in the audience watching Les Dennis in Not Too Tame Theatre's production of Twelfth Night. He was later contacted by the company's boss, Jimmy Fairhurst, and they met for coffee. When asked what role he would like, Kane replied: 'Before you suggest Bottom or Puck or Malvolio or any of the other funny parts, I don't want to do that. I want people to go, “Oh my God, I did not expect you to do that.” I want to do Romeo in later life.'
Kane has spent the past year immersed in acting, including a course with vocal coach Patsy Rodenburg and studying the Meisner Technique, the Uta Hagen Technique, and the Ivanna Chubbuck method. 'It's been like a Rocky montage,' he said. 'It's not going be a comedian going into the West End and doing quite a good job. It's going to be me taking it too seriously and horrifically failing, or doing something more than you would ever have expected.'
Romeo + Juliet runs from September 17 to October 10 at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
