Romeo and Juliet
Zen Zen Zo’s modernisation of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet heightens the meaning of the play for those who may not understand the complete complicity of the English language. With only three actors, three chairs and a room full of space in which helped create a story through dynamic physicality, contemporary beat and both classic and modern text. Zen Zen Zo’s modern adaption of Romeo and Juliet travelled all across Queensland entertaining schools with their physical theatre performance of this classic play. Zen Zen Zo’s version of the classic love tragedy uses three main elements of drama; Movement, Space and Time to help create meaning and engage young audiences.
The main focus and meaning of the play which was portrayed by Romeo and Juliet was the meaning of rejecting the authority given by their parents. This relates to their targeted audience which are teens who now choose to ignore the authority given by their parents and do the opposite of what they’re told. In the performance Romeo and Juliet are aware that their families are feuding but chose to stay together anyway knowing the consequences of their relationship. Romeo is seen to make frequent visits to Juliet without either of their parent knowing. The actors did an excellent job with combining the youth of over four centuries ago to the youth present times by suing the main meaning of rejecting authority.
Movement is one the main elements which is uses throughout the play, it is used very effectively within this performance as all three actors uses all areas to the stage such as the upstage left and centre stage right which is commonly not used with most play the balcony scene as the both stand away from each other for which Juliet stand behind a black curtain upstage left and Romeo stand centre stage right both looking away from each still giving a sense of being in the same scene next to each other by where the actor focuses their movement and vocal points. Another key movement technique the actors use is both abstract and realistic movements which are often used in between scenes. An example of this is the abstract movement seen when Romeo and Juliet first meet within in this scene they circled each other as they talked. This is an abstract movement as its not necessarily the most common thing people would do in real life, but Zen Zen Zo have used this circling movement to represent confronting an enemy and falling in love. Movement is a very effective key element because if used properly it can show meaning and or insight to the story or character without having the character/s say anything.
Zen Zen Zo’s have used the viewpoints of space which include architecture and spatial relationship to help manipulate and explore the dramatic meaning of the play. These are used throughout Zen Zen zo’s re-enactment of the play to enhance the current meaning of the play. At the ball/ party for example, the actors move around on the stage like the stage...
