Jamaican teens offer new lease of life for Romeo and Juliet with film adaptation

High school teens from Jamaica have transformed Romeo and Juliet into a modern love tale, opening up this age-old tale to a whole new audience.

Now, coming to Brixton’s Ritzy Cinema for a special Jamaica Independence Day screening on August 6, Romeo n Juliet 4EVA, is set to entice audiences with its naturalistic and heartfelt take on the timeless classic.

Award-winning actor Sheldon Shepherd, one of the film’s stars, will be in attendance along with multi-award winning producer Paul Bucknor.

Mr Bucknor, who will feature in the Q&A alongside Mr Shepherd at the Brixton Ritzy, said: “This film has been many years in the making and I was committed to taking the high school kids from stage to silver screen.

“I believe this predominantly teenage cast, mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds, serves up convincing performances with a unique Jamaican twist.”

The adaptation places the enduring love story in Kingston, Jamaica. The film follows Dean – played by Dashawn Miller – a schoolboy who sees himself as a modern-day Romeo pursuing his classmate Erica – Shanice Gowan – his Juliet. 

Dean is a young carer, looking after his sick mum and working at the family food stall. 

An English teacher sets Dean and his classmates Romeo and Juliet as homework. 

The story grips him, he plays it in his head, casting himself as Romeo and giving the role of fair Juliet to Erica – the girl he fancies from across the street.

Shot on location in Kingston and Port Royal with actors from Haile Selassie High School, the film is set within the volatile inner city community of Payneland.

Romance, violence and teenage angst burst onto streets full of colour, with the sound of reggae filling the air.

The film’s concept was prompted during production of Conquering Shakespeare, a reality TV competition, produced by Mr Bucknor in 2019, which challenged high schools to adapt a Shakespeare play for the stage in a Jamaican context. 

The result is a vibrant production with a young and talented cast.

Mr Shepherd is best known for his starring role in Better Mus’ Come which earned him Best Actor Award at the prestigious American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in 2012, and a starring role in Idris Elba’s directorial debut Yardie. 

More recently, the young actor played the late Neville Garrick, Marley’s art director, in Reinaldo Marcus Green’s biopic Bob Marley: One Love. 

Mr Shepherd was reunited with Better Mus’ Come producer Mr Bucknor, for Romeo n Juliet 4EVA. Mr Bucknor famously co-produced the Oscar-nominated The Full Monty in 1997.

Romeo n Juliet4EVA will be screened at the Ritzy Picture House in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton on Tuesday, August 6, at 6pm.

For more information, visit: https://www.romeonjuliet4eva.com/

Pictured top: Shanice Gowan and Dashawn Miller as Juliet and Romeo (Picture: Romeo n Juliet 4EVA)