Romeo & Juliet
PLOT SUMMARY
Written by William Shakespeare
First publically performed in 1595-6
Tragedy
Key characters include Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, Mercutio, Nurse and Friar Laurence.
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? (Juliet, Act II, Scene 1)
For years, two of Verona’s most influential families, the Capulets and the Montagues, have hated each other. Their sons and servants are forever fighting in the streets.
Caught in the inescapable vortex of hate and revenge, the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, manage to forge a connection across enemy lines. The question that lingers is whether they can break free from the seemingly inevitable cycle of bloodshed and carve out a hopeful future.
MEET THE CHARACTERS
PAST PRODUCTIONS
In 2024 the Globe’s Director of Education Lucy Cuthbertson created a bold new production for Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank.
Discover More2004 – dir. Tim Carroll, starring Tom Burke
2007 – touring production, dir. Edward Dick, starring Richard Madden
2008 – touring production, dir. Elizabeth Freestone
2009 – Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank production, dir Bill Buckhurst
2009 – Watch Dominic Domgoole’s production on Globe Player
2012 – performed in Brazilian Portuguese as part of Globe to Globe
2013 – Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank production, dir Bill Buckhurst
2015 – touring production, dir. Dominic Dromgoole and Tim Hoare
2017 – dir. Daniel Kramer
2019 – Michael Oakley directed for Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank
2021 – Watch Ola Ince’s Globe production on Globe Player
WATCH ON GLOBE PLAYER
Romeo & Juliet (2009)
Dominic Dromgoole’s production brings refreshing clarity to one of Shakespeare’s most famous and best-loved tragedies, drawing out the contemporary relevance of this passionate teenage love story. Ellie Kendrick (Juliet) and Adetomiwa Edun (Romeo) head a cast whose period costumes point to the timelessness of parental disapproval, adolescent temperament, rivalry and violence.
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Romeo & Juliet (2021)
From historic feud to ill-fated union, Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet found new significance in summer 2021 in the Globe Theatre. Experience Ola Ince’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s most famous play in this ‘bold… clever, energetic’ (Guardian) production.
Discover MoreUPCOMING EVENTS
SHOP THE RANGE
Flowers, poison bottles and a fabulous quote from one of Shakepeare’s greatest tragedies, printed on an indigo blue 100% cotton t-shirt. The quote is spoken by Mercutio in Act 3, Scene i of Romeo & Juliet.
Shakespeare quotes, love, and cats. Three of our favourite things on a 100% cotton bag! The bag is printed on both sides and has black mid-length handles. Part of our print to order service.
Explore the full Romeo & Juliet collection. Our clothing, homeware and posters very much appeal to hopeless romantics as well as the woeful. Our books and DVDs allow all ages to enjoy this classic play.
ROMEO & JULIET BLOGS
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