At start of 2020 we launched an open-to-all creative writing competition, Shake It Up, asking people, in a short monologue or duologue, to reimagine characters from Romeo and Juliet and tell their stories from a different perspective. The winning entries were to be performed at the Festival by our professional cast. We were thrilled by the response and the scripts but little did we know that a pandemic was on the horizon and public performance was going to be impossible. Lucky for us then that we had all this fabulous material and undaunted, we reinvented the Festival, turning the best scripts into short films: PSF2020 went digital. The Nurse, Juliet, Tybalt, the Apothecary, Friar John, Romeo and Lady Capulet all had a new spin on their lives; watch them below!
Programme of Events
PSF Online Festival 2020
Thursday 16th July 2020 – Romeo & Juliet: Prologue by William Shakespeare
Friday 17th July 2020 – Rosaline’s Suitors by Charlie Zarb
Saturday 18th July 2020 – Post Mortem by Jacky Hilary
Sunday 19th July 2020 – Undressing Friar John by Tom Lynas
Monday 20th July 2020 – Violent Delights by Laura Turner
Tuesday 21st July 2020 – The Nurse’s Lament by J L Dean
Wednesday 22nd July 2020 – Tybalt’s Truth by Charlie Girdlestone
Thursday 23rd July 2020 – Juliet by Bea Harmston
Friday 24th July 2020 – Scapegoat by Chris Hollis
Saturday 25th July 2020 – Friar Laurence’s Confession by William Shakespeare
Plus fringe extras – audience anecdotes, interviews with directors, writers, designers and more!
Watch the videos
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In Conversation: Writing & Directing
Watch the video: In Conversation: Writing & DirectingDirector Becky Hope-Palmer, and PSF Associate Playwright, Laura Turner discuss the challenges and joys of Shakespeare, open-air theatre, writing and directing.
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In Conversation: Costume
Watch the video: In Conversation: CostumeNicole Small has been designing and making costumes for PSF since 2016. Here she talks about her career and craft.
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Juliet
Watch the video: JulietThis fascinating interpretation of Juliet is written and performed by Bea Harmston, a 16-year-old from West Sussex.
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Undressing Friar John
Watch the video: Undressing Friar JohnWhy does Friar John fail to deliver the crucial letter to Romeo? Find out in Tom Lynas’s clever re-imagining.
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The Prologue
Watch the video: The PrologueSet in a beautiful Hampshire garden, our version of the famous Prologue set the scene for our digital festival.
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Friar Laurence’s Confession
Watch the video: Friar Laurence’s ConfessionFriar Laurence’s actions play a significant part in the tragic tale of Romoe and Juliet. Watch his confession here.
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Scapegoat
Watch the video: ScapegoatWhat if the underwritten charater of The Apothecary had a life before the play, or afterwards, or even today?
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Violent Delights
Watch the video: Violent DelightsLady Montague is re-imagined as a single mother whose dark secret lies at the heart of the family hostilities.
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Rosaline’s Suitors
Watch the video: Rosaline’s SuitorsRomeo’s love for Rosaline leads him to the Capulet’s party…where everything changes. Here is her story.
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The Nurse’s Lament
Watch the video: The Nurse’s LamentAn imaginative insight into the Nurse’s back story, and her love for Juliet. Touchingly performed by Paddy Navin.
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Tybalt’s Truth
Watch the video: Tybalt’s TruthA dark and menacing take on the story of Romeo and Juliet from the Capulet viewpoint.
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Post Mortem
Watch the video: Post MortemRomeo and Juliet, both now dead, reflect on their tragic fate, and what might have been.