Thinking of taking the kids to the theatre? Here is what we wish we knew before booking tickets to the musical & Juliet Singapore.
Spoiler alert! This review contains some spoilers of the & Juliet musical in Singapore.
There are some fantastic theatre productions happening in Singapore, and so much to book ahead for! Our weekends are filling up fast all the way until Christmas (it’s closer than you think!) When we heard that the smash hit musical & Juliet was coming to Singapore with the Australian cast in the spotlight, we couldn’t wait to book our tickets. So what’s it all about, and is it suitable for kids?
We are taken along on Juliet’s journey as she asserts her independence and ventures to find herself, set to the many, many musical hits of Max Martin. Some of our favourites include ‘Since U Been Gone’ (Kelly Clarkson), ‘I Want It That Way’ (Backstreet Boys), and ‘Oops I Did It Again’ (Britney Spears). So many amazing chart toppers, and the best energy in an audience we have experienced in Singapore. Who can not dance to those tunes?
We were lucky enough to catch & Juliet Singapore at the Gala opening night, and here are our highlights of what makes this musical a must-watch for adults (and why it’s best to leave the littlest ones at home, but is great for teens to see it…)
Read on for why we were not prepared for the adult themes in & Juliet the musical in Singapore (and a 20% discount promo code!)
1. Non-stop (!) pop music and the incredible voices of the & Juliet Australian cast
I was just as excited as my daughter (aged 11), to see this musical as soon as we saw the preview videos of & Juliet. We both love 2000’s pop music, which is entering its ‘classic’ era according to my tween (yes, I feel old). The drawcard that led to us buying our tickets and sorting sparkly outfits was undoubtedly the musical set list of the masterful Max Martin. It feels as though there are less than two minutes between songs, sometimes less, which can be a little much. The whole show is jam-packed with smash hits woven together throughout the storyline. There were times the lines felt a little cheesy or out of place, and that’s probably because they are. But often the lines just clicked to make it feel as though the music was made for the story.
The Australian cast is packed with theatre stars from down under. Angelique the Nurse, played by Casey Donovan, is a powerhouse ex-Australian Idol alumni who has a cracking monologue about ‘drama’ which is quite possibly the highlight of the show. William Shakespeare is played by Rob Mills, who is also a first-season Idol contestant, and while the British accent is a little hit-and-miss, he never misses a note, so we can forgive him for that! The standout singers along with Angelique are Juliet and Anne, both with powerful song moments and high notes that raised the roof!
2. Expect tears and laughter, uplifting stories and interwoven tales of self discovery and second chances
The storylines within this musical proved to be just as iconic as the music. William and Anne reveal the challenges of a marriage fraught with needs on both sides to be understood and loved. Juliet realises that she no longer needs to conform to her parents’ demands and that she is her own woman in charge of her own life, and can swing from a chandelier if she wants to. There were giggles and tears as a lost love is rediscovered, and the journey of a parental figure needing to let go of their child to realise their own happiness.
We also applaud the inclusion of an openly gender fluid character and same-sex couple, which was so tender. May stole the scenes with their dancing and heartfelt rendition of Britney’s ‘I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman’. The characters of Frankie Debois and May fighting for their happiness and overcoming their own fears was beautiful to watch. The best part as a parent was to see my child proudly naming friends she was reminded of, and shouting “Slaaaaaay!” as she applauded.
3. Parental warnings: Sensitive content in & Juliet
I wasn’t prepared for the swearing (both the ‘f’ and ‘s’ words are dropped a couple of times), or the alluded-to sexual references, which my tween is now becoming much more attune to. If you can move past this, and perhaps prepare your tween or teen for it before you go, they can take it in their stride and still enjoy everything else about this great show. We would still recommend that this show is best for teens and older.
4. A totally awe-inspiring set
The set design is definitely deserving of a call-out, as it is nothing short of awesome. Scene-stealing moments include Romeo and Juliet’s romantic moon ride across the stage and the shifting pillars to transform the stage from a bedroom to a crypt. We also loved the bicycle-drawn carriage ride, and seeing Juliet literally swinging from the chandelier! The lighting, fireworks, and huge screens all add to the atmosphere.
5. Prepare yourself for a 20% discount with this promo code!
We have a cheeky 20% discount for you! Let us know if you enjoyed this musical as much as we did. We’re thinking of heading back for a rewatch!
& Juliet
Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Various showtimes, running until 15 October 2023
Book now
See you at the theatre!
