Duel Reality: A Modern Circus Take on a Shakespearean Classic

As the night began the theatre was aglow, split down the middle by blue and red light. Each audience member was given a color-coordinated wristband corresponding with their side of the theatre – drawing the audience into the familial rivalry. On stage, the Montagues and Capulets commenced their battle.

Following the 2023 success of Passengers, The 7 Fingers returns to Seattle Rep with Duel Reality, a daring reworking of Romeo and Juliet that defies the original’s fatal ending and reframes the star-crossed conflict through visceral, high-stakes physicality. This interactive performance modernizes the classic tale, bridging generations and appealing to audiences of all ages. The Montreal-based and internationally-acclaimed arts collective is known for redefining circus by stripping down the spectacle to its thrilling essence. Duel Reality adds an interactive element to the traditional tale, urging audience members to cheer for their house and seating select patrons on stage, where the line between spectator and story blurs and each participant takes their place among the Capulets or Montagues

With house lights still on, an announcement rang out, encouraging the audience to react to the performance viscerally, whether that be gasping, crying, or laughing. The energy of the theatre teetered on a sporting competition that had playful dance breaks and physical comedy. All the while, the performers were interweaving lines from Shakespeare’s original work to create an exhilarating, and sometimes heart-stopping, performance.



In an interview with Seattle Rep ahead of the Seattle premiere, Duel Reality’s writer, director, and choreographer, Shana Carroll, discussed the interpretation’s origin. “That setup really lent itself to exploring polarity—the audience divided in half, facing each other—and resembled a sports arena in many ways. This inspired a kind of sporting event-influenced performance that would lean into the notion of tribalism and dichotomy, with groups in red and blue facing off against each other […] the notion of polarized, warring tribes is also deeply relevant right now.”

In the 400-odd years since Romeo and Juliet was first written, there have been countless iterations. Themes of community, trust, and connection are ever present throughout the show as the performers rely on each other to safely execute flips, elegantly maneuver on a trapeze, and bounce ever higher on the teeterboard to the marching beat of a drum.

Much like early Shakespearean theatre, which had to be versatile enough to adapt to indoor stages, outdoor arenas, or royal palaces, Duel Reality pays homage to this tradition with its own adaptable set. Throughout the 70-minute performance, the stage converted from having vertical poles to an open floor for tumbling. Performers seamlessly introduced hoops, pins, and balls to juggle and leap through.



Duel Reality strips the story down to the core concept of love and rivalry and leaves a lasting impression as, in the end, the performers shed their team colors and unite as one, rewriting the original ending of Romeo and Juliet to be one of love and unity. Seattle Rep Artistic Director Dámaso Rodríguez writes “[...] we can feel a sense of hope when the curtain comes up because it didn’t really happen, and we have the chance to make different choices in our own lives.”



Duel Reality premiered in 2023 and, just nine days later, received the Seoul Arts Award, making it one of only five non-Korean companies recognized that year. The show runs at Seattle Rep through June 22, 2025, before continuing its North American tour in Washington, D.C., followed by international dates in Hungary, Czechia, and France.

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