From Screen Stars to Shakespearean Lovers: Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe's West End Journey
Noah Jupe and Sadie Sink are reflecting on their unexpected paths to Shakespeare's most famous stage. "Noah definitely has more Shakespeare experience than I do," Sink remarks during a rehearsal break. Jupe, who played Hamlet in the film adaptation of Hamnet at just 19, admits this wasn't always the case. "Until now, Shakespeare wasn't really something I was interested in," he confesses. "It was taught in such a boring, intellectual way at school that it just went in one ear and out the other."
The Director's Vision and Unfinished Business
Acclaimed theatre director Robert Icke saw something special in the young actors. "I told Sadie, 'One of the things you could do now that will escape you in five years is Juliet,'" Icke recalls. "It's an amazing part, and so few people get to play it young enough for it to make sense." For Icke, this production represents unfinished business - his 2012 version was praised but felt incomplete. "With Shakespeare, you always get a certain distance and then see what you missed," he reflects.
The five-week rehearsal process has been transformative for both actors. "Thinking back to our chemistry read, we've obviously grown so much since then," Sink observes. For Jupe, this marks his stage debut, and he approaches it with boyish enthusiasm. "In films, we never get to speak this much," he notes. "This is about marrying your voice and words to your heart. When you get it right, it feels like you're flying."
Child Stardom and Professional Evolution
Both actors share the unique experience of growing up in the spotlight. Sink began her career playing Annie on Broadway at age 10 before landing her breakthrough role in Stranger Things at 14. "You can't stop it from becoming part of your identity," she acknowledges. "It's always going to be a huge part of my life, and I'm grateful for how that show protected me in many ways."
Jupe's family background in entertainment - his mother is an actor and writer, his father worked in production - provided valuable guidance. "It's tough to go through that world and still come out loving being an actor," he says. "So it's rare to work with someone your age in a similar position." Sink agrees, noting that her perspective shifted around age 18. "Acting means something different now than what I thought it meant," she reveals.
Modern Love in a Classic Context
The actors bring contemporary perspectives to Shakespeare's timeless romance. Jupe contemplates modern dating challenges: "We live in a world of dating apps where even if you find someone pretty, there's someone across the world who seems better. It's nice to explore Romeo and Juliet's relationship and give yourself hope that such connection exists."
Sink offers a wry counterpoint: "I mean, they both die in the end." But Jupe persists: "Acting on that spark when you feel it - I don't think we do that nowadays. Even when you find what you're looking for, you immediately doubt yourself."
Icke's Evolving Perspective
Director Robert Icke brings new insights to this production, particularly since becoming a parent since his 2012 version. "I was 25 last time," he notes. "Now I'm more sympathetic to what it's like to be a parent in this play." He also appreciates learning from his young cast, joking about picking up contemporary slang from them.
Icke emphasizes that Romeo and Juliet isn't primarily about family feuds. "If Romeo were to turn up at the tomb five minutes later, he'd find Juliet awake and they'd be fine," he points out. "This play could so easily be a comedy - it's different from other tragedies where the bad thing is already happening when the play begins."
Looking Forward with Established Careers
Both actors continue to build impressive careers beyond this production. Jupe has upcoming films with Hugh Jackman and Benedict Cumberbatch, plus a lead role in a TV adaptation of Sebastian Faulks's novel Engleby. Sink maintains her secret role in Marvel's Spider-Man and Avengers films, which continues to generate intense fan speculation.
For Icke, casting these young screen stars represents an opportunity to reach new audiences. "A young audience who come to see these guys - and maybe don't know theatre - will be completely astonished and blown away if we get it right," he predicts. The production runs at London's Harold Pinter Theatre from March 18 through June 20, marking a significant moment in both actors' evolving careers and Icke's artistic journey with Shakespeare's enduring tragedy.
