Tom Holland received a warm reception on Tuesday night as he left the Duke of York’s Theatre to a throng of adoring fans following the second preview performance of Romeo & Juliet.
The 27-year-old actor, who stars as Romeo in the Jamie Lloyd production, looked thrilled as he exited, holding a cup of tea. Holland greeted the crowd cheerfully, waving enthusiastically and blowing kisses.
Dressed in a stylish yet understated ensemble, he wore a knitted sweater vest over a plain white T-shirt, paired with casual blue jeans, white trainers, and a grey messenger bag slung across his chest.
Grinning proudly, Holland was escorted to his waiting car but rolled down the window to continue waving at his fans.
The initial reactions to the modern adaptation of the Shakespeare tragedy have been very positive. After a delay due to technical issues, Romeo & Juliet opened in the West End on Monday, with the first attendees taking to social media to share glowing reviews.
The first night of previews, initially set for Saturday, was canceled due to “technical aspects of the production needing further preparation.”
Audience members praised lead stars Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as “amazing” and “superb casting.”
Fans teased that the production was “violent,” “creative,” with “unеxpеcted humor,” and “lots of kissing.” One attendee described the production as unlike anything they had seen before, praising the innovative use of technology and various settings, from dressing rooms to the roof of the theater.
Although the balcony scene was missing, Holland delighted fans by performing it after the show. The performance ended with a standing ovation and a fist pump from Holland, showing how much it meant to him.
Social media users lauded the “palpable chemistry” between the star-crossed lovers and declared Holland’s return to the stage a proof of his acting prowess. However, opinions were divided on Jamie Lloyd’s signature stripped-back staging, with some finding it “underwhelming.”
Photos shared online depicted a modern, industrial-style set with a large iron fence and block letters spelling out Verona. The cast wore casual outfits like black hoodies and T-shirts.
At the curtain call, an emotional Holland and Amewudah-Rivers hugged before being joined by the rest of the cast for a bow. The play also features Freema Agyeman, Michael Balogun, Tomiwa Edun, Mia Jerome, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Ray Sesay, Nima Taleghani, Joshua-Alexander Williams, Callum Heinrich, and Kody Mortimer.
The cast then waved to the crowds from the theater’s balcony. This play marks Holland’s first return to the stage since his West End debut in 2008 as Billy Elliot at 12 years old.
Director Jamie Lloyd praised Holland, calling him “one of the greatest, most exciting young actors in the world,” and expressed his honor in welcoming him back to the West End.
After the show, Holland took to Instagram to praise his co-stars and crew, calling the night “a highlight of my career.” He shared a photo with the cast, expressing his pride and excitement for the rest of the run.
Holland’s mother, Nikki, also posted a sweet tribute on her Instagram Stories, sharing a photo of him as Romeo next to a throwback shot of him as Billy Elliot.
The production is set to run for 12 weeks until August 3, before potentially transferring to Broadway later this year. Tickets sold out within two hours of going on sale in February, with fans comparing the rush to get tickets to the strеss of securing seats for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour.