Australian newcomer Alex Grech shines in ‘Juliet & Romeo’, a vibrant musical retelling where he not only acts but helps redefine a legendary story.
Before stepping onto a film set, Alex Grech had already travelled the world as a backpacker, worked as a paralegal and bartender, and performed in high school productions of ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Legally Blonde’. But nothing truly prepared him for what it would mean to bring Tomasso to life in ‘Juliet & Romeo’—a role written specifically for this bold new retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
“I’m honoured to have shared the space with such a powerful cast,” Grech shares. “Having the chance to work with fellow Australians Rebel Wilson and Jamie Ward, who play Lady Capulet and Romeo respectively, was an added pleasure. I had a great time working very closely with Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter & The White Lotus), our Lord Montague, and Derek Jacobi, who plays the Friar. I’ve seen both actors in various performances all my life. I learnt much from observing how these icons handled themselves on and off set. As an actor still getting their sea legs in this industry, it was a humbling and inspiring experience.”
Tomasso, Grech’s character, does not appear in the original Shakespearean play. That, in itself, was part of the allure. “The idea of originating a character was fascinating to me. Tomasso is Romeo’s younger cousin and lives in admiration of his adoptive cousin, Mercutio. Like his idol, he devotes himself to honouring the responsibility of defending the Montague name. Throughout our film, he becomes increasingly inspired by Romeo’s passion. By the end, he’s left conflicted—torn between his duty to the family name and his longing for a life beyond the feud he was raised in.”
“The idea of originating a character was fascinating to me… by the end, Tomasso is left conflicted between duty and desire.”
Alex Grech
This emotional complexity aligns with the tone of the film, which takes Shakespeare’s universe into striking new territory. Directed by Tim Bogart, ‘Juliet & Romeo’ is presented as the first chapter in a musical trilogy. “This story, this musical world of Juliet & Romeo, is a rich and vibrant original reimagining of a dauntingly classical tale,” says Grech. “From the very early stages of the auditioning process, I was immediately excited about the possibility of being part of something so fresh and beautiful. Tim said early on that the music in this film should act as an extension of the world and of these characters—just like Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter functions as seamless poetry in his plays. The music of Juliet & Romeo lives through its characters and their world of Verona.”
Filmed on location in Verona and distributed by Briarcliff Entertainment, the movie premieres in the US on 9 May and in the UK on 11 June, with further territories to follow. In addition to playing Tomasso, Grech also trained extensively to perform stunts and even served as the stunt double for Romeo—no small feat for a debut. Months of work with stunt teams and horse trainers paid off, solidifying his dedication not just to acting, but to the full physical embodiment of a role.
With his background in martial arts, competitive sport, writing, and activism—including volunteering with grassroots theatres in New York—Alex Grech emerges as more than a promising newcomer. He is part of a new wave of actors for whom performance, integrity, and purpose are inseparable.
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