In the city of Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets are locked in a long-standing family feud. A chance encounter between Romeo, the only son of the Montagues, and Juliet, the only daughter of the Capulets, sparks an intense love affair.
Star-crossed: Luca Crawford as Romeo and Megan Claridge as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
Photo by Michael Hall
But when the family feud escalates into violence, the star-crossed lovers face danger, and tragedy…
CODA, the Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association, is back this summer for its fifth annual outdoor production in Wandle Park next month with a passionate production of Shakespeare’s beloved and romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, from July 25 to 28.
With a stylish 1950s Italian setting, this production is staged in the round at the park’s bandstand, and is the ideal treat for a summer’s evening – with seating and a bar provided.
The production is co-directed by Sarah H Gordon and David Sanders.
Wandle Park is among the oldest public open spaces in Croydon. Originally opening in 1890, seven years ago it underwent a multi-million pound redevelopment, which enabled extensive restoration work to uncover the course of the River Wandle, which will provide the setting for the production.
CODA was founded in 1943, and is Croydon’s leading community theatre company, performing both musicals and plays to a professional standard. In the last few years, CODA have performed acclaimed versions of The Railway Children, The Wind In The Willows, Witness For The Prosecution, All That Fosse, Rope, Into The Woods and Blithe Spirit, alongside concerts and Old Time Music Halls.
The CODA company: Alfie Bird, Phoebe Dunster, Megan Claridge, Michael Hall, Tom Skinner, Liz Fox and Tom McGowan will be performing Romeo and Juliet around the Wandle Park bandstand. Photo by Will Wilson
CODA’s previous summer productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance Of Being Earnest and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance have all been performed in the round at Wandle Park’s bandstand, and have been so exceptionally well-attended and received that the company were delighted to be asked back to perform for a fifth time.
Romeo and Juliet runs from Wednesday July 25 to Saturday July 28, with performances at 7.30pm and a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm.
Adult tickets cost £10, with concessions at £9, and may be booked online at www.codashows.co.uk or by calling the CODA box office on 07858 879019.
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