Wherefore art thou new stars? Sadie Sink, draped in Elie Saab Haute Couture, and her Romeo, Noah Jupe, in Elizabeth Emanuel and Nina Ricci, will be centre stage in Robert Icke’s new iteration of Shakespeare’s love story
Oli Kearon
In an extremely naturalistic, foliage-framed building adjacent to the winter-shuttered stage of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, two young stars are approaching the end of a week of rehearsals for Robert Icke’s new Romeo & Juliet. Sadie Sink, 23, is first into the communal kitchen, which is wood-lined, scruffy and not dissimilar to the inside of a tree trunk. ‘It’s like a sauna,’ she offers, in a lilting American accent, her black Prada bag slung on the sofa. Looking at her right now, it’s easy to forget that Sink was recently nominated for a Tony Award; was part of the gravity-shaking Stranger Things franchise; and was even cast in a Taylor Swift video (currently on 111 million YouTube views) – she’s make-up free, wearing baggy trousers and a plain, long-sleeved top, with her signature red hair pulled up in a bun. She heads straight to the tea station, offering around a brew. Tea, yes. Sink, who has been in London since August – filming the top-secret new Spiderman alongside alleged newlyweds Zendaya and Tom Holland – is a convert. ‘It’s impossible to escape, it’s always being offered,’ she shrugs. ‘So I’m like, “OK, fine,”’ she laughs, in a gesture of surrender. But which type? ‘Hmm… well, the one I’ve been on recently is this,’ she says, peering at the box to read out ‘Malty Biscuit Brew’, pronouncing malty like ‘mole-tee’, as she brandishes the yellow-packaged Yorkshire Tea stalwart. ‘Basically, it makes the tea smell nice.’
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Right on cue, Noah Jupe, 21, appears in a brown knitted jumper, bringing with him a strong aroma of cigarettes, having clearly nipped out for a post-rehearsal smoke. He’s fresh from scooping
a Breakout Artist gong at the UK strand of the Newport Beach Film Festival Awards, held the previous evening at Churchill’s Old War Office, now the luxury Raffles London hotel. It was a night that ended at the Four Seasons – a night he only agreed to after being texted a 2pm call time for rehearsals the following day. ‘I’m not on the late nights at the moment,’ he says, somewhat sheepishly, pulling out a chair at the table. ‘But [last night] was just great because in my category there were four of us, and two of the other people were my close, close friends,’ he says with teddy-bear-like warmth, referring to actors Jay Lycurgo and Archie Madekwe. ‘We all got together and had a drink afterwards.’