Sara Vickers chats about HOME's Romeo & Juliet

What attracted you to this piece?

When I sat down at my audition to chat to the director, I was captivated by all his ideas, his playful way of directing, and of course the space! As for the part, I don’t think many actresses have been offered the role of Juliet and turned it down.

I have always shied away from the thought of playing her until very recently. I picked up a Juliet monologue for another audition earlier in the year and something just clicked for me. This production came up and it just seemed right, I felt ready to take on the challenge, and here I am!

Romeo & Juliet is staged regularly, but how would you persuade someone to see it who might think they’ve seen it all before?

Well I don’t think anyone has ever seen it staged in a swimming pool… or three pools to be precise! Also, working with a German director, whose first language is not English, is a really wonderful experience, and will no doubt make for a refreshing version of the play. There are very few rules in our rehearsal room; making sense of it and playing is what we’re doing, and it’s very liberating. And I have no doubt that the audience will sense that while watching, and will enjoy the sense of play and freedom created.

HOME is already making a mark on Manchester. What challenges does working with them provide for an actor?

I suppose it’s about getting the word out there, building a new reputation for this new joint venture. The building is still being constructed so we are back and forth from the baths to our rehearsal space, which is in an office block. It’s interesting to work in a big glass building where you see office workers at their computers, and on our floor a man dancing in his pants.

Is the text intact?

The text has been cut, and a little more than what people may be used to. In the prologue it says… ‘The two hours’ traffic of our stage…’ – that’s what we’re aiming for! There is a good balance of poetry and narrative.

Chemistry is hard to convey. How do you hope to convince audiences that 'love is in the air'?

Chemistry is a tricky one. And very elusive. the moment you try to force it, it's gone. For us, we are working on that the sense that they get each other from that first moment. They click. He knows how to make her laugh, she knows how to wind him up… they find something in each other that makes sense of everything. My Romeo is also very easy on the eye which always helps!

Why should audiences see Romeo & Juliet?

They should come to see the space come alive with bold characters. There will be laughs and tragedy in equal measure. And did I mention it’s in a swimming pool?!

Romeo & Juliet, directed by Walter Meierjohann, is presented by HOME at Victoria Baths, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, 10 Sept – 4 Oct 2014.