Tom Hiddleston and Maya Jama lead stars at Romeo & Juliet press evening
The play saw tickets sold out just two hours after going on sale in February, with fans comparing the stress as on par with trying to get to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour.
So it came as no surprise that several famous faces snapped up the chance to attend the press night of the latest production of Romeo & Juliet at The Duke Of York’s Theatre on Thursday evening.
Tom Hiddleston led the stars flocking to the London theatre to see Tom Holland starring as Romeo in the Jamie Lloyd production of the Shakespeare tragedy.
The actor, 43, was joined by his fiancée, Zawe Ashton, and the couple held hands and shared a look of love on the red carpet.
Tom looked typically handsome in a smart navy blue suit, which he paired with a simple plain T-shirt and shiny dress shoes.
Tom Hiddleston led the stars snapping up the chance to attend the press night of the latest production of Romeo & Juliet at The Duke Of York’s Theatre on Thursday evening
Several stars flocked to the London theatre to see Tom Holland (pictured) starring as Romeo in the Jamie Lloyd production of the Shakespeare tragedy
Tom, 43, was joined by his fiancée, Zawe Ashton, 39, and the couple held hands and shared a look of love on the red carpet
He looked typically handsome in a smart navy blue suit, while Zawe exuded sophistication in a white satin smock-style gown adorned with a line drawing of a naked female body
While Zawe, 39, exuded sophistication in a white satin smock-style gown, with long draped sleeves.
For an added daring touch to the elegant look, her dress was adorned with a line drawing of a naked female body.
The actress toted a box-shaped cream handbag and sported a pair of matching T-bar high heels, while her doting fiancé gallantly carried her train.
The couple showed their support for their fellow Marvel star Tom, 27, who famously plays the current iteration of Spider-Man.
While Hiddleston stars as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Zawe making her debut last year as Dar-Benn in The Marvels.
Another famous power couple spotted enjoying a date night at the press performance were Maya Jama and Stormzy.
However, the couple opted to swerve the red carpet as they made separate their arrivals, heading straight inside the theatre.
Maya, 29, looked effortlessly chic as she wore a baggy white button-up shirt and a pair of flared black trousers.
Another famous power couple spotted enjoying a date night at the press performance were Maya Jama (pictured) and Stormzy
However, the couple opted to swerve the red carpet as they made separate their arrivals, heading straight inside the theatre (Stormzy pictured)
Maya, 29, looked effortlessly chic as she wore a baggy white button-up shirt and a pair of flared black trousers
She added inches to her frame with a pair of gold strappy stiletto heels and toted her essentials around in a large patent leather shoulder bag
The Love Island host further accessorised the ensemble with a pair of gold hoop earrings and sported a pair of oversized black shades
While Stormzy, 30, cut a laidback figure in a black T-shirt, jogging bottoms and a pair of matching trainers, hiding his face underneath a black baseball cap and sunglasses
She added inches to her frame with a pair of gold strappy stiletto heels and toted her essentials around in a large patent leather shoulder bag.
The Love Island host further accessorised the ensemble with a pair of gold hoop earrings and sported a pair of oversized black shades.
Meanwhile, her boyfriend Stormzy, 30, cut a laidback figure in a black T-shirt, jogging bottoms and a pair of matching trainers.
The British rapper hid his face underneath a black baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses, while flashing a silver watch on his wrist.
Also lending their support to Tom, was his childhood best friend and fellow actor Harrison Osterfield, 27.
He cut a dapper figure in a navy boxy shirt with quirky button-up detailing, teamed with matching tailored trousers.
American playwright Jeremy O. Harris also attended the opening night with a pal and looked stylish in a black and white patterned shirt with a coordinating tie.
Meanwhile, comedian Meera Syal looked effortlessly chic in a black collared shirt tucked into a pair of smart trousers.
Also lending their support to Tom, was his childhood best friend and fellow actor Harrison Osterfield, 27
He cut a dapper figure in a navy boxy shirt with quirky button-up detailing, teamed with matching tailored trousers
American playwright Jeremy O. Harris also attended the opening night with a pal and cut a dapper figure in a shirt and tailored trousers
Meanwhile, comedian Meera Syal looked effortlessly chic in a black collared shirt tucked into a pair of smart trousers
The Goodness Gracious Me star, 62, added a denim jacket over the top and casual white and pink trainers
The Goodness Gracious Me star, 62, added a denim jacket over the top and casual white and pink trainers.
Tamzin Outhwaite put on a classy display in a baby blue linen suit, which she paired with a white waistcoat.
The Eastenders actress, 53, hid her eyes behind a pair of oversized black sunglasses and sported bright white trainers.
While Robert Glenister cut a sharp figure in a navy blue button-up shirt with an open collar and black jeans.
The Hustle actor, 64, also sported an oversized dark jacket and black suede shoes as he posed on the red carpet.
While Tom’s girlfriend Zendaya, 27, was also in attendance to show her support, but the Hollywood actress stayed backstage with her boyfriend instead of appearing on the red carpet.
However, the loved-up couple were spotted leaving the theatre hand-in-hand after the performance had concluded.
Tom looked exhausted but pleased as he waved to the crowd of waiting fans outside, while Zendaya beamed proudly as she led him to their waiting car.
Tamzin Outhwaite put on a classy display in a baby blue linen suit, which she paired with a white waistcoat
The Eastenders actress, 53, hid her eyes behind a pair of oversized black sunglasses and sported bright white trainers
While Robert Glenister cut a sharp figure in a navy blue button-up shirt with an open collar and black jeans
The Hustle actor, 64, also sported an oversized dark jacket and black suede shoes as he posed on the red carpet
The initial reactions to the latest adaptation of Romeo & Juliet have been very positive, with the lucky first attendees taking to social media to praise Tom and Juliet actress, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, as ‘amazing’ and ‘superb casting’.
And spilling the beans about what people can expect, many teased that the production was ‘violent’ and ‘creative’ with ‘unexpected humour’ and ‘lots of kissing’.
One woman who watched the production told MailOnline: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. It was an amazing production and a brilliant performance by Tom.
‘It was absolutely brilliant – there were so many jaw-dropping moments. The whole thing was a real triumph.’
However, attendees were divided over award-winning director Jamie’s signature stripped-back staging, with several branding it ‘underwhelming’.
Photos shared online of the set show a modern and industrial style, with a large iron fence and block letters spelling out Verona, where the play is set, while the cast sported casual outfits, like black hoodies and T-shirts.
While The Daily Mail’s Patrick Marmion gave the play four stars and singled out Tom for praise, gushing: ‘His commanding cheekbones and curving jaw suck the breath from the audience and keep us wrapped in his dreamy gaze.’
The play marks Tom’s first return to the stage after his West End debut in 2008, when he played the lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical at 12 years old.
While Tom’s girlfriend Zendaya, 27, was also in attendance to show her support, but the Hollywood actress stayed backstage with her boyfriend instead of appearing on the red carpet
However, the loved-up couple were spotted leaving the theatre hand-in-hand after the performance had concluded
Tom looked exhausted but pleased as he waved to the crowd of waiting fans outside, while Zendaya beamed proudly as she led him to their waiting car
The initial reactions to the latest adaptation of Romeo & Juliet have been very positive , with the lucky first attendees taking to social media to praise Tom and Juliet actress, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, as ‘amazing’ and ‘superb casting’
Speaking about his casting, director Jamie said: ‘Tom Holland is one of the greatest, most exciting young actors in the world. It is an honour to welcome him back to the West End.’
Following his debut performance earlier this month, Tom took to his Instagram to pay tribute to his co-stars and call the show ‘a highlight of my career’.
The play also stars Freema Agyeman (Nurse), Michael Balogun (Friar), Tomiwa Edun (Capulet), Mia Jerome (Montague), Daniel Quinn-Toye (Paris), Ray Sesay (Tybalt), Nima Taleghani (Benvolio), Joshua-Alexander Williams (Mercutio), and Callum Heinrich and Kody Mortimer (Camera Operators).
The production is set to run for 12 weeks until August 3, before it will reportedly transfer to Broadway later this year.
Spider-Man Tom Holland was never going to have much difficulty scaling the walls of the Capulets’ villa in Verona to reach Juliet’s balcony in Shakespeare’s love story.
But in the event, Jamie Lloyd’s daringly dirgeful production, which opened in the West End last night, only requires him to reach the giddy heights of a microphone stand.
Yes, this new production of Romeo & Juliet is a typical example of Lloyd celebrity minimalism – following in the footsteps of James McAvoy in Cyrano and Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Boulevard.
As usual, that means a run on mics in the capital for a production that is whispered – and sometimes merely breathed – into the amplification system.
As usual, that means a run on mics in the capital for a production that is whispered – and sometimes merely breathed – into the amplification system
Gone is the sunshine of fair Verona, where Shakespeare lays his scene.
Instead, we get the Stygian darkness of Soutra Gilmour’s stage design – empty but for lighting rigs and a giant cinematic billboard relaying close-ups of the action as cameramen track actors on stage, and around the building itself (Romeo’s banishment to Mantua takes him up on to the roof).
The play is famously preoccupied with death and Lloyd makes the most of that, with a cast dressed in black jeans, T-shirts and hoodies. It’s monotone, monochrome and mannered. If you took the production’s pulse, you might be tempted to call a priest.
Sometimes, it even feels as if Lloyd is deliberately trying to throttle the life out of the febrile passion that normally drives this headlong love story. And yet, cometh the hour, cometh the (Spider) man… all 5ft 8ins of him.
Damn, he’s a buff and good-looking bloke. His commanding cheekbones and curving jaw suck the breath from the audience and keep us wrapped in his dreamy gaze.
Instead, we get the Stygian darkness of Soutra Gilmour’s stage design – empty but for lighting rigs and a giant cinematic billboard relaying close-ups of the action as cameramen track actors on stage, and around the building itself (Romeo’s banishment to Mantua takes him up on to the roof)
It’s monotone, monochrome and mannered. If you took the production’s pulse, you might be tempted to call a priest
Sometimes, it even feels as if Lloyd is deliberately trying to throttle the life out of the febrile passion that normally drives this headlong love story. Pictured: Daniel Quinn-Toye stars as Paris
Nima Taleghani (pictured) stars as Benvolio
I missed the colour of the masked ball where Romeo and Juliet meet, and the drama of the sword fight when Romeo calamitously kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt
Pictured: Tom Holland as Romeo
Freema Agyeman (pictured) stars as nurse
After meeting Juliet he does a jig like a footballer celebrating a goal, but otherwise moves with the precision of a cat. And although it’s stillness he does best, the shy smiles he scatters on his beloved are – in Hollywood terms – worth a million dollars. In the circumstances, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers holds up well as Juliet.
Lloyd discourages her from showing too much personality or independent spirit (as he does everyone), yet she has a quiet maturity that sits easily with the poetry.
Likewise, Michael Balogun as Friar Lawrence imposes gravitas and good sense on the not so rash young lovers. The one surprise is Freema Agyeman as Juliet’s youthful Nurse.
Normally ample, ageing and garrulous, Nurse is here a 30-something party girl with attitude. Much of her wittering in the Bard’s original is cut, and instead she gets lines from Juliet’s mother, who is controversially ditched altogether.
I missed the colour of the masked ball where Romeo and Juliet meet, and the drama of the sword fight when Romeo calamitously kills Juliet’s cousin Tybalt.
But we may not get a chance to see Holland live on stage again if Hollywood has its way – so happy are they who have a ticket already for this curious but nearly sold-out requiem. And even happier they who can afford £275 a pop.
