By comparison, the new West End production is sparse, with no fight scenes taking place on stage and the audience instead being witness to the aftermath of suggested violence. There are no prop weapons and some bloodied costumes are the only signs that any violence has taken place.
The tragedy famously resolves in suicide, warnings of which have become commonplace both in the theatre and on television.
In the new version there is no balcony scene, among the most famous in the Shakespearean canon, with the young lovers simply conversing side by side, rather than Romeo calling up to Juliet.
Actors are also openly wearing microphones, breaking away from a Shakespearean tradition of projecting the lines to the back of the theatre, and instead talking in subtle whispers.
Juliet’s character in the play is 13 years old, with Romeo implied to be a few years older.
Before even being staged the new adaptation caused controversy, with the casting of black actor Amewudah-Rivers drawing criticism from online trolls. In response, hundreds of actors signed a letter in solidarity with her.