There are two must-dos in London for Shakespeare fans: A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the stars in Regent’s Park, and Romeo & Juliet performed from the balcony at the Globe.
The open-air theatre isn’t doing Dream this season, but The Globe is obliging with a run of everyone’s favourite tragic love tale.
And it’s a production worth seeing.
Adetomiwa Edun makes a fluid Romeo, and Ellie Kendrick, a gap-year student (don’t you just hate her?), warms into her Juliet after a shaky start.
But, as so often happens, the star-crossed lovers are upstaged by brash Mercutio, an unusually comic Benvolio and a witty turn from Fergal McElherron as the Capulets’ manservant.
Penny Layden and Kiwi star Rawiri Paratene excel as the nurse and Friar Lawrence.
CLAIRE GOODALL
» Shakespeare’s Globe, Bankside, SE1 9DT London Bridge (020 7401 9919). Until Aug 23. £5-£33