After facing delays due to technical issues, the West End production of “Romeo & Juliet” finally premiered on Monday, receiving initial reviews from attendees at the Duke of York Theatre. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, the Shakespearean tragedy stars Hollywood actor Tom Holland as Romeo.

Originally slated for Saturday, the opening night of previews was canceled, citing further preparation needed for technical aspects of the production. Despite the setback, attendees praised Tom, 27, and his Juliet co-star, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, describing their performances as “amazing” and “superb casting.”

Audiences teased that the production featured unеxpеctеd humor, violеncе, and plenty of kissing. Social media platforms buzzed with praise for the chemistry between the leads and hailed Tom’s return to the stage as a testament to his acting prowess.

However, there was some criticism towards Jamie’s stripped-back staging, with some attendees finding it underwhelming. Photos revealed a modern, industrial set with the cast in casual attire.

Tom and Francesca were captured embracing emotionally during the curtain call, joined by the rest of the cast for a bow. The production stars Freema Agyeman, Michael Balogun, Tomiwa Edun, Mia Jerome, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Ray Sesay, Nima Taleghani, Joshua-Alexander Williams, and Callum Heinrich and Kody Mortimer as Camera Operators.

Tom’s return to the stage was met with heartfelt tributes, with the actor expressing pride in the production and its cast on Instagram. His mother, Nikki, also shared a sweet tribute on her Instagram Stories.

The production, set to run for 12 weeks until August 3, has already garnered significant excitement, with tickets selling out within hours of going on sale. However, the lead-up to the play was marred by racial abuse directed towards Francesca and other cast members, prompting a strong statement from the theatre company vowing to protect and support its cast against online harassment.