boy meets girl... then it all kicks off...
Dignity
An immersive theatre experience retelling the story of Romeo & Juliet after Shakespeare through the lens of rave culture
Two households both alike in DIGNITY...
Be transported back to the 90s. Club culture is alive and well. Join us at club 'Dignity' where house music and drama collide. Dance the night away whilst the greatest love story ever told unfolds around you.
Exploring the euphoria of the time alongside its darker underbelly. Audiences will experience live DJ sets interspersed with the narrative of the piece and breakout physical moments. We want them to live and breathe the story with the intensity that audiences in the yard might have experienced. Multiple performers playing single characters will allow audiences to make their own choices and follow their own journey in an anti sequential narrative of the piece, coming together for tightly choreographed and stylised violence and moments of celebration. Culminating in the tragic overdose that 'plagued' the house music scene.
about this production...
Venue
The Cause - 60 Dock road, London e16 1yz
The Cause is a nightclub in a East London. We are in its Warehouse space.
The bar will be open before, during and after the show. Please bring photo ID.
The nearest stations are West Silvertown (DLR), Custom House (Elizabeth line) and Canning Town (Jubilee line). Canning Town is also the nearest 24-hour tube station.
Accessiblity
Wheelchair access
The majority of the performance space, The Warehouse, is accessible by wheelchair. Unfortunatly, this is an immerse show and some of the action is located on a balcony with only step access.
Please do contact us with any access need questions and we will be happy to help you.
We offer complimentary companion tickets.
The venue has a separate disabled toilet.
show warnings
Immersive show
This performace has a running time of approx 90 minutes no interval. It is an immerseive experience. Audiences can expect to be standing for the majority of the performance. It's a nightclub.
This production contains
- Suicide and suicidal ideation
- Death of young people
- Violence (including knife fights and fatal stabbings)
- Drug and substance use.
- Loud music (club-level, bass heavy).
-Flashing/strobe lighting.
-Dark or low-visibility spaces.
meet the cast...
Moe Essa
escalus
I was born in Sweden my background is middle eastern.
I am playing Escalus and the thing that I can probably relate to the most with Escalus is the frustration that he sometimes has.
I like right here right now with Fatboy Slim and the 90s rave culture is banging.
I like the concept about this play and I am very excited to do it in the middle of a rave!
oliver Hewson-parkinson
paris
Hello! I’m Oliver, an 18-year-old actor based in Kent. I’ve lived here my whole life, but my roots stretch across the UK, particularly to Derbyshire, where most of my dad’s family are from.
I am playing Paris, Juliet’s husband-to-be, a man who meets an unfortunate fate after being caught in the chaos of two rival families. I relate to Paris because I see him as someone who isn’t really a clubber—he goes for the people, not the party. He lacks confidence at times, often falling under Lady Capulet’s influence and not fully taking control of his own fate. Despite this, he carries a quiet sense of self that persists throughout the piece.
My favourite 90s house track is Music Sounds Better With You. I love the quieter, downtime moments at parties, and this track captures that feeling perfectly—the sense of connection when everything else fades into the background.
I think 90s culture was special because of its unity and freedom. Music brought people together and broke barriers, creating a shared sense of belonging.
My drink of choice? Anything non-alcoholic that tastes good. I’m not much of a drinker; I prefer to feed off the energy of the people around me.
The RT Project means a lot to me. Its commitment to diversity and inclusion has shown me the value of different perspectives and the power they bring to theatre.
alexandra Piare
montague
I am a stage and screen actor from High Wycombe, driven by a deep commitment to performance and artistic growth. As a recent graduate, I am eager to collaborate on diverse and challenging projects that expand my craft and build experience within the industry. My university training provided valuable opportunities to develop both technically and creatively, equipping me with confidence and discipline. I am passionate about storytelling, and nothing is more rewarding than inhabiting a character and bringing a narrative to life. My drink of choice is a vodka lemonade—simple, cheap, and easy—but if the mood strikes, I’ll have a couple of tequila shots.
My passion for innovative theatre drew me to the RT Project’s bold reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet. Setting the story in a nightclub, with Montagues and Capulets as rival drug gangs, immediately captivated me. I particularly appreciate Dignity’s focus on Juliet, placing her at the centre in a way that feels powerful and overdue. The use of multiple Juliets creates a dynamic, immersive experience.
Dignity is my first fully immersive theatre project. It has been an exciting challenge, requiring constant presence to create a believable world. Preparing involved researching 1990s club culture and its links to rave and gang environments.
I play Montague, leader of the gang—observant, controlled, yet responsible for her people. Her rivalry with Capulet drives the tension.
I’m grateful for the RT Project’s inclusive, supportive environment, which allows me to grow and create bold, exciting work.
kamile berlinskaite
capulet
I’m originally Lithuanian, now based in London - which basically means I was raised with strong boundaries and even stronger opinions. I trained in Drama and Acting in Bristol, and since then have been moving between theatre, film and whatever creative chaos feels right at the time.
I’m playing Capulet in this version of Romeo & Juliet. I’ve been told I bring a certain “Eastern European firmness” to the role - which I’m choosing to take as a compliment. I relate to her control, her pride, and that very particular energy of “I know what’s best.” I’m not naturally ruthless, but I do understand the no-nonsense, don’t-push-me attitude. She’s someone who protects what she’s built, and doesn’t apologise for taking up space. I respect that.
Favourite 90s house track? Free by Ultra Naté and Mood II Swing - it’s impossible not to feel lifted by it. I also love the early trance sound that emerged in the late 90s. Armin van Buuren and Tiësto had that euphoric, slightly hypnotic energy that feels like 3am in the best way.
The 90s culture feels raw to me - pre-Instagram, pre-curated everything. People showed up as they were. The music was communal. Sweaty. Unfiltered. I like that.
Drink of choice: golden tequila, fresh lime and soda. Simple and effective.
The RT Project feels like a space to grow, take risks and meet people who are genuinely here to create. It’s about momentum and collaboration, which is exactly where I want to be right now.
ollie smith
romeo
Where are you from? Background?
I am from welling in southeast London, I have lived here all my life, I started taking an interest in acting in my secondary school where I joined a production of ‘School of Rock’ the rest is history.
-Who are you playing and how do you relate to your character?
I am playing Romeo, I can’t say I relate to him too much aside from his naivety.
-Favourite 90s house track? And/or DJ?
Born Slippy is my all time favourite.
-Thoughts about 90s culture?
I think it was a time of huge cultural changes and just seemed a more simple world to live in. I definitely wish I could have lived it.
-Drink of choice?
Black kraken rum and coke
-What does theRTproject mean to you?
The project to me is a chance have a shot at taking part in something new and groundbreaking as well as being able to show my talent with other talented people.
(How does or ethos and plan align for you?)
The ethos aligns with me very well as I have struggled with audition season of drama schools for two years now with no luck. To be given this opportunity is a blessing for young actors like myself. I am very exited to see where this takes us.
ade ojekale
tybalt
Hi, my name is Ade; born and raised in South East London. My ethnic background is Nigerian. I’ll be playing Tybalt. I don’t relate to Tybalt in the sense that we have the same opinions and views on things but I do know, much like most people my age, we’re very much victims to the negative choices of those who came before us and these things influence our day to day lives and we’ll continue to carry the cycle on whether consciously or not. My favourite 90s track is breathe by The Prodigy. 90s culture from my understanding was all about having a good time and trying to make it last for as long as you could. The weekend was what you lived for. Of course there were trends but not like the trends we have today there was an individuality that came with them and we’ve kinda lost that to be honest. My drink of choice would be an Oreo milkshake mmmm. The RTproject to me is an opportunity to perform by my terms. We’ve seen time and time again that working class Actors/ Artists create the most undeniably great pieces of work. However, we live in a world where we have to beg and fight for a chance to create and find a way to share work. This company allows us to do these things and supports us to do so. It’s a clear reflection of what I think pursuing the Arts should feel like.
louis wilson
mercutio
Growing up in the West Country, I spent most of my time outside in fields or stuck indoors on rainy afternoons making music with my brother. Inspired by my dad’s ability to name the year of any song playing on the kitchen CD player, we searched for inspiration in punk and rock legends like Queen, Adam and the Ants, and Depeche Mode. We were basically brainwashed into thinking all new music was terrible.
Playing Mercutio feels like stepping into something iconic, like putting on the red Pumas of Grandmaster Flash—instantly recognisable and impossible to ignore. He shifts the energy of any space. He’s both protector and provocateur, loyal yet unknowable. With Romeo, he’s an anchor and a rival, loving him fiercely but fearing losing him to something he can’t compete with. So he drags him back into the moment.
I’m drawn to his need to perform—to be the hero, the clown, the rebel. Anything but the one left behind. Maybe he’s addicted to love, or maybe he’s running from silence. Maybe both.
The Chemical Brothers capture that 90s energy perfectly. Today, DJs like Yusuke Yukimatsu continue that by blending genres in unexpected ways.
The 90s felt like a collective release—freedom, rebellion, expression—but also a way to avoid deeper issues.
My drink of choice is always a Negroni.
The RT Project offers a space for honest, accessible theatre and meaningful, sustained creative growth, supporting young actors to develop their craft over time without barriers.
Lizzie Palmer
benvolio
Hi I’m Lizzie and I’m from Kent! I grew up as a dancer, horse rider hybrid and was always told I had to pick one of the two because they used different muscles, so naturally I ended up becoming an actor? I am extremely excited to be playing Benvolio in our retelling of Romeo & Juliet, ‘Dignity!’ A similarity between me and B.Volio is that I am always down to party and will be brutally honest if my friends love lives are rubbish #examineotherbeauties. My favourite 90s house track has to be Pacific State by 808 State. I prefer instrumental heavy tracks and this is one I’ve heard recently and I love it. To me, 90s culture is iconic, especially the fashion, so much so that it’s all coming back to the present day! My favourite part about the 90s is 100% the catwalk scene, I would’ve loved to have gone to a Chanel show and seen Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Shalom Harlow, all of the supermodels of that time. My drink of choice is as much vodka as I can get in one cup before someone tells me to calm down, mixed with coke. I am really looking forward to working with the RT project as their unique, experimental approach to theatre intrigues me, as it challenges the traditional approaches we’ve seen to stories in the past. I think we need to keep theatre fresh and interesting, which is exactly what the RT do and what I hope to do with them.
brandon george stedman
friar laurance
’m from the United Kingdom. I was born in Sidcup but have lived in Welling my whole life. I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was 14. Watching films and series when I was younger sparked my passion for acting. Seeing actors perform made me want to be in their position one day and helped me realise I wanted to train properly.
I’m playing Friar Laurence, and I relate to him in loads of ways. I’m energetic and have strong observational skills when I’m listening, and I can stay locked into what someone’s saying. But the second I get distracted, I completely zone out and get carried away in my own thoughts, living in a world of my own. I can be quite dopey and unintentionally funny when I’m unaware of what’s going on around me, which feels very true to this character.
My favourite 90s house track is Your Love by The Prodigy. It feels nostalgic and captures what Britain must have felt like in the 90s.
I’m gutted I wasn’t born in that era. Hearing about it makes me frustrated, especially how laws changed rave culture and made it less free.
My drink of choice is Desperados. I love them.
The RT Project excites me because it’s unique and gives young actors a proper chance to train, grow, and understand the industry in a real wa
tommy gillard
nurse to Juliet
’m a South Londoner—Battersea born and bred. No mysterious overseas backstory, no secret passport… just 100% full-fat British with a strong cup of tea somewhere in my DNA. I’ll be stepping into the role of the Nurse in Romeo & Juliet, which feels right. Who doesn’t love a character with big energy, a big heart, and absolutely no filter? My character—part drag, part figure—embodies freedom: they’re bold, expressive, and playful with gender, and that’s something I connect with deeply.
I love the 90s era. Show Me Love, Be My Lover, Gypsy Woman, Dreamer, Let Me Be Your Fantasy—that’s my pre-going-out ritual. If there’s a piano riff and a diva vocal, I’m usually found tearing it up on the dance floor. For drinks, I’ll have a Tommy’s margarita if we’re feeling classy, and a white rum and pineapple if we’re feeling dangerous.
Honestly though, as a queer, non-gender-conforming person, the RT Theatre Project feels like a creative home. It’s a space where I’m not just accepted, but genuinely celebrated. RT’s ethos of inclusivity and championing diverse voices aligns deeply with my own values. I believe theatre should give people the freedom to explore identity without limitation, and to express themselves fully without fear or judgement. That’s RT. I’m completely at home in an environment which encourages authenticity and bold self-expression.
mae meadows
juliet
’m Mae Meadows. I grew up in North London and studied at ArtsEd for sixth form. Performing arts is deep-rooted in my family's history and was a central part of my upbringing. I’ve always loved watching and learning from bold and innovative pieces of theatre and weaving those influences into my own performances.
In this production I am playing one of the four Juliets. She is one of the earliest complex female characters in English drama and I am very interested in her being portrayed as such. At her core, Juliet is the ultimate teenage girl. She is rebellion and chaos. Juliet feels everything so intensely, as any young woman does, and she refuses to allow people to diminish her feelings because of her age. I am inspired by her unapologetic passion and unwavering determination, even if it is misdirected at times.
My favourite 90’s house track is definitely Out of Space by The Prodigy. Once it’s in my head, it stays there for days. I love the boldness of 90’s culture—the fashion, freedom and energy. Everything felt entirely original and exciting.
As for my drink of choice, I rarely commit to just one, but right now it would be vodka, lime, and soda.
The RT project resonates with me because of its commitment to originality and excitement. I believe in exploring new perspectives within existing stories, reshaping and evolving them to create work that feels powerful and entirely new, giving collaboration real meaning.
Lilia Dora Griffin
juliet
Hiii, I’m Lilia and I’m from Dartford. I’m finishing my third and final year at The Miskin Theatre and I am a member of The Geoffrey Whitworth Theatre. I’ve been lucky enough to perform in numerous plays, including Ella in Dixon and Daughters, Jo in Little Women, Jack Merridew in The Lord of the Flies, and Arturo Ui in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. I am a Type 1 Diabetic and have been for just over three years, which I am still getting used to, but it has made me more resilient in everything I do. I’m also a frequent theatre-goer and have seen over 50 plays at the National Theatre, which is my dream stage.
I am playing one of four Juliets. This version of Juliet is quite a contrast to me, as she is manipulative and off her face for most of the show. However, that makes her all the more fun to play. I do relate to her feisty nature and determination, and I love that she’s so different from the Juliet we usually see.
I love anything by The Prodigy, especially Death of the Prodigy Dancers and Breathe. Their music is loud, chaotic, and full of energy.
I’m always straight on the cocktail list when I go out, usually ordering a Piña Colada—it just reminds me of summer.
The RT Project has been such a special opportunity. I’m so grateful to be part of it and excited for what’s next.
Rachel brown
Juliet
I’m an actor originally from Stoke-on-Trent. I play one of our Juliet’s in Dignity, who is easily one of my favourite characters of all time. I connect deeply with her ability to balance both softness and strength; she is all at once wise and grounded but also expansive and joyful. Throughout this process we’ve been surrounded by so many brilliant 90s house tracks, but my current favourite is ‘Show Me Love’ by Robin S. I love the connection and authenticity of 90s culture - a group of strangers coming together to let loose and forget about their troubles. I think we could use more of that today!
My drink of choice will always be a pint of Peroni.
I’m so excited and grateful that theRTproject exists. It’s an inclusive, collaborative space that feels like a second home. It’s so special to find accessible spaces in the arts that champion artists from all different socio-economic backgrounds and cultures.
emma heap
juliet
I grew up in Cheltenham and studied in Leeds, before moving to London to pursue my dream of being an actor.
I’ll be playing one the Juliet’s and I relate to her forthright nature. She goes after what she wants and I love that quality.
My favourite 90s house track is ‘Groove Is In The Heart’ by Deee-Lite - I play it in the car with my mum and we have a little boogie.
I have an affinity with 90s culture, especially the fashion - minimalist and effortlessly chic.
It depends on the vibe but i could quite happily run on a combination of black coffee, diet coke, and red wine.
theRTproject ethos of enhancing equality of opportunity really aligns with me. The company feels like a safe space to push boundaries within theatre and I love being a part of the project!
aurora de luchi
rosaline
My name is Aurora De Luchi. I’m originally from Italy, but I moved to England in 2018 to study Film and Drama at university in Canterbury. My concept of home has always been ever-changing. Since I was a child, I moved frequently because of my dad’s job as a military officer, both in Italy and later in the UAE. Some might say that kind of upbringing is unsettling, but it has shaped who I am today—adaptable, curious, and always ready for new adventures.
One constant in my life has been my passion for the arts. Performing allowed me to explore versions of myself I couldn’t always express in daily life. It became a form of escapism among uncertainty. In this new adaptation, I play Rosaline, Romeo’s first love interest who, unlike in Shakespeare’s original, has more agency and may influence the fate of the “star-cross’d lovers.” I think we relate through our desire to be in control of our destinies and to find where we truly belong.
A 90s rave nightclub setting is what first drew me to this project. It carries a sense of nostalgia and freedom that feels both distant and familiar. I love “Push the Feeling On” by Nightcrawlers and “Show Me Love” by Robin S.—songs that make me feel completely weightless. If I’m not dancing, I’d be sipping a Blood Orange and Vanilla Martini.
The RT Project has been a bold, creative return to theatre, reminding me why I fell in love with performing.