Love-struck trucks and diggers: Estonia's take on 'Romeo and Juliet'

Straits Times

2 days ago

Heavy machinery are seen Shakespeare's \"Romeo and Juliet\" theatre adaptation, where heavy goods vehicles and cars take on the roles of the famous characters, in Rummu, Estonia, July 31, 2025. REUTERS/Janis Laizans
RUMMU, Estonia - A production of "Romeo and Juliet" in Estonia uses a cast of vehicles to tell Shakespeare's story of star-crossed lovers, with a red Ford pickup taking on the role of Juliet, while her Romeo is a rally truck.
'I must say I came into it expecting it to be really silly, but it was really good. I really liked it," said Maia Maisate, a spectator, after the show.
A disused limestone quarry in the Estonian countryside is the backdrop as more than a dozen vehicles, including city buses, fire engines, a lorry and a cement truck with hearts painted on it, drive around in front of makeshift viewer stands.
Two excavators waved their mechanical arms at each other threateningly in a recreation of the fatal sword fight between Tybalt and Mercutio, and a car was thrown from a cliff.
'I would still say that even though it was cars, it felt really sweet and cute. Like when you had the scene where the cars were, you would assume, kissing, the energy was captured really well. The sweetness and the love," said Maia Pussim, another spectator.
The production, which continues until Sunday, is without dialogue, although it is accompanied by fireworks and music, including the track "Lovefool" by Swedish group The Cardigans.
"It's basically a big experiment about what it means to do Shakespeare today and whether we can find new ways to do it," said co-director Paavo Piik of Kinoteater, which put on the play.
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"We wanted to be very gentle with these big machines. This contrast is interesting for us. Is it possible to deliver emotions like love (with big vehicles)?" REUTERS