UFV Theatre presents contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet

UFV Theatre continues its tradition of educating students and entertaining Fraser Valley audiences with a spring Shakespeare production of a contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet. Featuring seductive love poetry and thrilling stage combat, this version of Romeo and Juliet is set in a post-apocalyptic Verona. Surrounded by violence and chaos, a pair of star-cross’d lovers from feuding families take their lives.

Adapted and directed by Paul Gélineau, the production runs March 5–23 at UFV’s Performance Theatre at 45635 Yale Road (at Airport Road) in Chilliwack. Performances continue on March 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22. The two Sunday matinees at 2 pm are on March 16 and 23. Student matinees at 12 pm are on March 12 and 13. Ticket prices range from $11 to $23 (plus service fees) and are available for purchase by phone at 604-795-2814 and online at www.UFV.ca/theatre.

“Everybody understands how much it means to love and how much it can hurt to love and everybody understands feuding,” said Paul Gélineau, director.

While the original play was first written by Shakespeare around 1595, UFV Theatre’s production has been adapted for a contemporary audience by UFV sessional instructor and Paul Gélineau, who has received local, national, and international recognition for his fight direction. UFV Theatre’s production of Romeo and Juliet will feature 24 student actors, 21 students and alumni working as designers and production crew members, and Chilliwack School of the Performing Arts student Bethany Meyers in the role of Queen Mab.

UFV Theatre offers a season of three main stage productions, the Directors’ Theatre Festival, and a variety of special presentations such as staged play readings, workshops, and more. All UFV Theatre productions cultivate professional standards of practice and performance, and offer a variety of opportunities for students to develop industry skills both onstage and behind the scenes