The Castle Players, Romeo & Juliet, The Bowes Museum

SETTING Romeo and Juliet in the shadow of Brighton Pier among the subculture of 1964 proved to be a masterstroke from this year’s director, Jill Cole. The young Capulets and Montagues become mods and rockers; new money versus old and motor bikes versus scooters.

What’s really nice is that the whole play captures the atmosphere of the time, the music is fab, and the gangs of mods and rockers may not all have speaking parts, but they are all, without exception, acting their little socks off. They all deserve a mention: Judith Bainbridge, John Beadle, Susie Blackburn, Sue Byrne, Peter Cockerill, Gail Jordan, Carolyn Naseby and the three bobbies on the beat: Christopher Evans, Martin Foran and Angus Wheeler; and the two youngsters, Cal Baker and Aidan Tyler were brilliant.

This is Juliet’s story really, she certainly has the most to say and Ella Blackburn said every word with the assured self confidence and conviction of someone much older. Her parents, Lord and Lady Capulet look as if they’ve both just stepped off the set of The Sound of Music, excellent performances from both.

You won’t need to watch out for that drunkard Friar John (Simon Pell) because he may just run you over on his bike before you even take your seats. His activities along with Trudi Dixon’s bossy housekeeper add the comedy.

Oh, and a nightingale sang too - a most incredible rendition of The Four Pennies Juliet from Penelope Randall-Davis and Owain Davies on guitar.

Other performances to note are Oliver Smith’s energetic Mercutio, Alice Byrne’s strong performance of Benvolio and saving the best for last, Chris Best who put her heart, her soul and a very convincing bad leg into a stunning interpretation of Juliet’s nurse.

Runs until Saturday. Tickets: 0800-074-7080 for further ticket outlets visit castleplayers.co.uk

Helen Brown