THEATRE PREVIEW

MARCH 2026 | Volume 261

 

UK's Lost Dog brings subversive re-telling of a Shakespeare classic to The Cultch this spring

The Cultch is pleased to welcome East Sussex-based dance company Lost Dog to the Historic Theatre stage for their humorous and heartfelt take on Romeo and Juliet, April 29–May 3, 2026. In Lost Dog's production, Juliet & Romeo, the star-crossed lovers did not die in a tragic misunderstanding...instead, they got married.

Now in their 40s, the couple is struggling to maintain their "happily ever after." So they decide to make a performance out of their mid-life crisis. The show blends dance, theatre, and comedy to illustrate the titular characters' frustration at feeling constantly mocked by their teenage selves, haunted by the pressure of being a paragon of romantic love. Juliet & Romeo examines our cultural obsession with youth and our inevitable issues with longevity.

Lost Dog has built an award-winning reputation creating "mongrel work" that universally resonates with modern audiences. Under the artistic direction of Ben Duke, the company has been at the forefront of showcasing unexpected interpretations of classic stories. Duke's previous works have earned a National Dance Award (Ruination), Olivier Award nomination (Goat), and more. Juliet & Romeo has been performed over 150 times in eight different countries.

★★★★★ "Superb. Devastating realism and dark humour" —The Stage
★★★★ "Insightful, funny and rich...smoulders with equal parts lust and loathing" —Time Out

Produced by: Lost Dog (UK)
Conceived and Directed by: Ben Duke
Devised by: Ben Duke and Solène Weinachter
Performed by: Emily Terndrup and John Kendall
Associate Director: Raquel MeseguerZafe
Lighting Design: Jackie Shemesh
Set & Costume Design: James Perkins
Production Manager: Dave Sherman
Technical Stage Manager: Seth Rook-Williams
Executive Producer: Daisy Drury
Producer: Emma Evans

WHEN: APR 29–MAY 03, 2026

EVENING PERFORMANCES, 7:30 PM
Wed, Apr. 29 — Opening
Thurs, Apr. 30 — Talkback
Fri, May 1
Sat, May 2

MATINEE PERFORMANCES, 2:00 PM
Sat, May 2
Sun, May 3

WHERE: Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables St., Vancouver, BC

TICKETS: Tickets from $35. Tickets on sale now through The Cultch's Box Office: 604-251-1363 or https://thecultch.com/event/juliet-and-romeo/    

ABOUT LOST DOG:
Lost Dog is an award-winning dance/theatre company based in rural East Sussex and led by director/choreographer Ben Duke. They aim to create and tour excellent shows widely and well – with consideration for the planet, care for their staff and performers, and generosity towards their audiences. They treasure and celebrate the temporary community that is created when people share time, space, and air in a theatre – whether that theatre is a village hall or a major metropolitan opera house. Their works on stage defy categorisation, but at their heart there is usually a familiar story or (often venerated) classic text which is retold, re-imagined, or reinvented through words, music, and movement. Their shows offer audiences an evening of genuine, laugh-out-loud entertainment while quietly (sometimes loudly) breaking their hearts.

ABOUT THE CULTCH:

Since 1973, The Cultch (formerly the Vancouver East Cultural Centre) has been one of Vancouver's most diverse and innovative arts and cultural hubs. The organization operates three theatrical venues, a gallery, and various ancillary spaces in the heart of East Vancouver. Offering dynamic contemporary works in theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts, The Cultch brings world-class presentations to thousands of citizens each year through its own programming and rental opportunities for community users. The non-profit's purpose is to provide a venue for performance, serving a diverse and engaged public, creating space for artistic experimentation and development, and building an audience for cutting-edge local, national, and international work.

 

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