Romeo and Juliet is one of the most romantic stories ever written, and the tale of the two star crossed lovers has been retold countless times. This iconic romance goes hand in hand with the equally important narrative of two long feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. The York cast is taking this story on as they rehearse for their production of the classic Shakespeare play (with their own modern twist). To convey this story fueled by romance and hatred, the cast has taken up both their scripts and swords as “ancient grudge breaks to new mutiny” on the York stage. 

“Fighting is very important for the show,” said sophomore Wilke Macariola, who plays Benvolio. “It really helps to show how intense the hatred is between the Capulets and Montagues.”

Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet’s families have feuded for decades. The tension and new modern take on the show heighten the violent society.

“The world and time that the show is set is one that has been built off of violence, and that is very apparent in my character Tybalt,” said junior Sam Griffin. “Fighting is all he has ever known, so that’s his reaction and solution to any problem he is faced with, even though it often isn’t the best way to approach it.”
To ensure safety while still conveying the intensity and realistic nature of the many fights that take place in the show, York brought in professional fight choreographer Orion Couling. Fight choreographers take into account the fight styles of characters and the context of the show to ensure that the fights look real and are safe for actors.

“Working with a fight choreographer is much different than your typical choreographer for a musical,” said Macariola. “Not only does the fight choreographer teach you the fighting, but they also help you establish the trust you have with your partner when battling. This is very important because fighting with stage weapons could be potentially dangerous if there is a lack of trust and control.”

While authentic weapons are not used onstage, there is still a high risk of injury in the high paced fights that take place. Replicas of crow bars, swords, and knives are used, and fight choreographers help teach the cast how to be safe and communicate with each other in the midst of the violence. When they’re taught the basis of safety, the cast can produce more realistic fights knowing they can trust one another.

“Working with Orion Couling was such a valuable learning experience,” said Griffin. “He is so knowledgeable about fights and the history of combat and how that translates to our show, and that helps the integrity of the fight choreography.”

As fighting is such an integral part of the show, learning how to fight has helped the cast become more in touch with their characters. One of the most intense fights in the show is one between Griffin’s character Tybalt and Mercutio, played by senior Tatum Langley.

“Being a character who thrives in provoking fights, really embodying the comfort of sword fighting was difficult at first because I had little experience,” said Langley.

Because her character is a skilled swordsman, one of the biggest challenges for Langley was learning how to convey the same fight skills her character has. To help overcome this challenge, the cast spent hours learning and perfecting fight skills with the help of Orion.

“He [Orion] is very creative and uses the strengths of the actors to create the most realistic and thrilling fights for the show,” said Griffin.

With choreography that’s built off of the strengths of the actors, each student involved has been able to embrace the challenges that come with pulling off the final product, all while embracing a new and exciting skill.

“Sword fighting was way more complex than I first thought, but it’s been so much fun; it’s very dancey which was definitely interesting,” said Langley, who is also a dancer. “It’s super invigorating!”

With the help of Orion, fighting has brought another element of the show together as the show grows increasingly nearer, premiering October 27. Tickets can be pre-ordered online at https://www.ticketpeak.com/res/yorkdrama or York students can claim one free ticket at the bookstore with an ID. Make sure to get your tickets now to experience not only the romance of the beloved classic, but also the violence that comes as a consequence of long held hatred between families in Romeo and Juliet.