Radio review - BBC - "Romeo and Juliet" (1992) ***

Ken Branagh's Renaissance Company takes on the famous romance, with guess who a little too old in the male lead opposite Sophie Ward; superb support from Judi Dench (nurse), Richard Briers (Juliet's dad), John Gielgud (priest), Derek Jacobi (if a little old as Mercutio), Ian Holm (chorus). Simon Callow is in it too, as Benvolio. I'm always surprised how much recap is in this play, and cruelty (Juliet's father is a prick to her and she is very mean faking her death), and there's one or two times where the directors (one of whom was Branagh) allows the actors (including himself) to cry too much - but it's a cracking yarn.