An Imaginative and Daring Romeo and Juliet

in Circus Form at the

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Duel Reality

Shakespeare Theatre Company

Jordan Wright

July 6, 2025

Gerardo Gutiérrez (Romeo) and Michelle Hernandez (Juliet) in Duel Reality at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall (Photo/Zemi Photography)

Director Shana Carroll’s version of the feud between the Montagues and Capulets takes it to the next level reflecting a circus-like version with tumblers, acrobats and jugglers. The show opens with eleven acrobats and a referee who calls out, “Let the games begin!” It’s a playful boxing match with two teams – red and blue. Red or blue colored wristbands have been handed out to audience members based on which side of the theatre we’re seated. The performers encourage us to root for “our” team and the audience gets into the spirit from the get-go.

The fight consists of competitive leaps and dives and fake boxing feints as the competitors outdo each other to huge applause when their team is named the winner. Daring athletic pole work is involved while quotations from The Bard are projected over the participants. Expect to see splits, lifts, hoop diving and somersaults as Romeo and Juliet play out their romance along with the acrobats. The more complex aerial feats like the Chinese pole and the trapeze build the momentum when the rigging is revealed, and the battles and challenges escalate.

The cast of Duel Reality (Photo/Jean Francois Savaria)

Carroll has the props. As the co-founding Artistic Director of this contemporary circus company The 7 Fingers, she directed, wrote and choreographed over a dozen of their touring and resident shows. As Co-choreographer and Circus Designer for the Broadway show Water for Elephants she earned Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle noms for “Best Choreography”. Carroll honed her skills at Cirque du Soleil, and if you are familiar with those spectacles, you’ll recognize many of this show’s acts from hula hooping to the diabolo, aerial silks, teeterboard, juggling, trapeze, complex lifts and more. I swear Juliet turned herself inside out in a trapeze act with her Romeo!

The playbill describes the company’s international cast’s tours staging original productions from intimate one-man shows scaling up to large arena performances, Broadway musicals, artistic collaborations with renowned international artists and companies, special events, Olympic ceremonies, televised performances, fashion, art and music events, immersive experiences and so much more.

Cast of Duel Reality (Photo/@Ekopics)

Originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages. This international cast stars Nino Bartolini, Daniela Corradi, Adam Fullick, Gerardo Gutierrez, Michelle Hernandez, Miliève Modin-Brisebois, Einar Kling Odencrants, Carlos Francos Péré, Anton Persson, Méghane Poulet, Santiago Rivera, Ashleigh Roper, Vitor Martinez Silva, and Colin Vuillème.

Musical Director and Composer Colin Gagné; Lighting Design by Alexander Nichols; Costume Design by Camille Thibault-Bédard; Benoît Rouillard, Rigger.

This exciting show is perfect for families or date nights.

Through July 20^th at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall, 610 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.547.1122 or visitwww.ShakespeareTheatre.org