How Sadiq Khan ruined Romeo and Juliet

London's Violence Reduction Unit reinvents Elizabethan drama

The Company in Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Romeo and Juliet. Photography by Tristram Kenton.

Forgive the self promotion but you may have clocked my article in The Telegraph today about the following study on Shakespeare:

I am sorry to say that it gets EVEN worse for Shakespeare this week.

Shakespeare reimagined in London, 2024

It turns out that The Globe is putting on a new version of Romeo and Juliet - to teach whippersnappers about knife crime.

I was advertised it on Instagram. Having followed the link, the first sign of trouble was when I saw this trigger warning:

The second was when I spotted Sadiq Khan’s involvement in the production:

(More on this later).

Is it 14th century Verona… or present-day London?

According to the cast of this new version of Romeo and Juliet, 14th century Verona and modern-day London were practically the same.

As one says: “We can all relate to Romeo and Juliet… gang culture, family, peer pressure”.

Exactly! And who hasn’t been proposed to by a prince?

Another cast member says: “You walk out on the street and you can see that’s a Mercutio, or that’s a Romeo.”

Definitely. Whenever I leave the house, the first thing I say to my neighbour is “do you bite your thumb at me?”

Here are some pictures from this very relatable version of Romeo and Juliet:

Hayden Mampasi as Romeo. Photography by Tristram Kenton.

Mariéme Diouf as Friar, Sharon Ballard as Lady Capulet and Miriam Grace Edwards as Nurse. Photography by Tristram Kenton.

“Nurse” is now an NHS worker:

Miriam Grace Edwards as Nurse. Photography by Tristram Kenton.

It even has a character called “cyclist” (ideally he’d be a baddie, but I doubt it because Khan is involved - who hates cars).

What’s the issue?

Looking at this production, some might say, “come on, Charlotte; people have always reinvented Shakespeare; what about the Leonardo DiCaprio version of Romeo and Juliet? Isn’t it good to adapt it for kids?”

But leaving aside the fact it looks utterly awful, why is Shakespeare being used as a crime reduction strategy?

Embedded in The Globe’s website are videos by the Young People’s Action Group (YPAG) - which advises the Mayor of London's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).

Key to the VRU’s strategy (which is clearly going very well) is the use of “prevention and early intervention”. In other words, it seems to think that Tybalt’s death will teach children not to stab each other with machetes…

Don’t believe me?

Behold, the YPAG has created these educational videos (below) to teach kiddos the importance of not stabbing each other - and what to do if you/someone else is stabbed.

Mercutio’s death discussion

*Trigger warning: the girls’ conversation is a bit like having a lobotomy.

Here’s the main takeaway:

“Even in a moment with so much pressure, Benvolio was still able to call an ambulance. But what would have been even better was if she could have done First Aid. And there’s a really important video by the Osmani Trust on Instagram that I feel like she could have benefited from.”

It’s what Shakespeare would have wanted…

Opening scene discussion

Main takeaway:

“I feel that if the young people involved had more access to positive opportunities, it would have ensured that they were able to reduce their risk of violence. If you attended the production, in your programme you’ll see a range of opportunities that the London VRU funds. And this can be done in your local community and also your borough too.

“Personally I love to get involved in my local youth club where I can explore my passion of playing football”.

If only they’d gone to the local youth club…

More lobotomy time:

Oh Juliet, if only she’d had a “safe space”!

Taxpayer moola

In the videos, you’ll see the youngsters talk about helpful organisations that Romeo and Juliet should have used.

For instance, in one video the Osmani Trust is mentioned.

Here’s an example of how much taxpayer money goes into some of these organisations (the Osmani Trust’s accounts for the year ended 31 March):

On The Globe website, the YPAG has compiled a list of other charities/ companies, with names like “Gloves Not Gunz” and “Football Beyond Borders”.

Deutsche Bank is also involved; it has a programme that “provides state secondary schools with free tickets to live performances at the Globe Theatre in London.” Here’s a picture of one of its programmes *shudders*:

Lastly, to add that The Royal Shakespeare Company already gets over £15 million in annual funding from Arts Council England.

So it’s a lot of money going into a lot of crap.

Either way, suspect the taxpayer might prefer some more policing over teenage explainers of Tybalt’s death…