Romeo and Juliet - Royal Exchange Theatre

PRODUCTIONS like this go a long way to debunking the myth that the works of Shakespeare are archaic and remote, only to be enjoyed by an academic or social elite.

There isn’t a doublet and hose in sight here and the brilliant words of the Bard are spoken in broad Manchester accents.

In my experience. regional brogues are usually reserved for clown figures or Shakespeare characters who come from the lower orders.

Director Nicholai La Barrie is powerful and invigorating and accessible which should mean more young fans for the man who brought us the greatest love story of all time.

But the play’s essence remains well and truly intact and this should keep the traditionalists happy. The famous balcony scene, played with just the right amount of wide eyed infatuation by Conor Glean and Shalisha James-Davis.

You can see it in their eyes, they’re so convincingly head over heels in love with one another as Romeo and Juliet.

By contrast the funeral scene complete with pouring rain - we are in Manchester after all - is so moving. Especially when it has the unmistakable voice of Elbow’s Guy Garvey as its musical backdrop.

I felt the audience participation when the characters invited us to get to our feet and party with them rather irritating and added nothing to the plot. Luckily though, it was only the briefest of boogies.

Geoff Aymer is also very watchable as Friar Lawrence, dispensing his wit and wisdom to two teenage star crossed lovers who, just to complicate matters, also happen to hail from two families who happen to hate the sight of each other.

Until November 18. The box office is on 0161 833 9833 or online at www.royalexchange.co.uk.

Star rating - 3.5 out of 5.

Photo - Johan Persson.