A UNIQUE take on Shakespeare's star crossed lovers is this year's production by the Mercury Young Company.

Following productions such as Quadrophenia, the Wall, and last year's Animal Farm, the talented group of young actors have moved out from the Mercury building to the atmospheric surroundings of St Martin's Church.

As well as a new venue, the company will be performing a condensed version of one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, Romeo and Juliet.

Playing the leads will be Ivy Dillon, who was in Animal Farm last year, and Peregrine Maturin-Baird who is in his third year of performing with the company.

Peregrine says: "I think being in a show such as this is always going to be a bit daunting whether it's your first or your third but it's very exciting, especially as we're performing in such a beautiful space.

"It's been really interesting working off site from the Mercury and exploring what we can do with the different areas within the church."

Directed by Filiz Ozcan, participation and young people’s director at the Mercury, the staging will take place all over the old building, which is now run by the Churches Conservation Trust, with the audience moving around to follow the action as it takes place.

"There's a lot of versatility with just roaming around the site," Ivy adds, "which has been a lot of fun to perform. This is a big jump from Animal Farm for me but we've been doing quite a bit of text work and although it's a huge role to play I'm not too worried about it."

Falling in love at first sight Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet's burgeoning romance is doomed from the start as their families are sworn enemies. Secret meetings soon lead to a forbidden marriage, but the two are forced to grow up quickly when the family feud threatens to overpower their love.

Filiz says: “In Romeo and Juliet there are many references to God, fate and death, so it lends itself perfectly to a site specific piece of theatre as these themes all connect with the building.”

Assistant director Tom Edwards adds: "It will be a different Romeo and Juliet to perhaps what people might normally expect but it carries the essence of the play and the young actors are doing a brilliant job with it. The other great thing about working with a company like this is the huge amount of energy they bring to Shakespeare's verse and the characters."

Romeo and Juliet

St Martin’s Church,

West Stockwell Street, Colchester.

Friday until August 28.

£11.50. 01206 573948.

www.mercurytheatre.co.uk