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"Romeo and Juliet"

Despite a long-standing feud between the Montagues and the Capulets
when Romeo, only son of the Montagues, meets Juliet, the Capulets' only daughter,
he falls in love with her and she with him.

With the help of Juliet's Nurse, they are married in secret by Friar Lawrence.

Juliet's cousin Tybalt quarrels with Romeo
and in the fight which ensues Mercutio is killed.

Romeo avenges his friend's death and kills Tybalt,
for which he is banished.

Juliet learns that her parents plan to marry her to Count Paris.

Distraught, she turns to Friar Lawrence,
who gives her a drug which will make her appear to be dead.

The intention is that her parents will place her in the family tomb
and when she awakes from her drugged sleep,
Romeo will be waiting to escape with her.

When Romeo returns to Verona,
he believes her really to be dead and kills himself.

Waking to find Romeo dead beside her,
Juliet kills herself.

The two families, united in grief, vow to end their feud.

Internationally renowned playwright and director Peter Gill will direct this production.

Peter is the founding Director of the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith
and was Associate Director at both the National theatre and the Royal Court.
He was also founding Director of the Royal National Theatre Studio (1984 -1990).

His last work with the Royal Shakespeare Company
was directing John Osborne’s "A Patriot for Me" (Barbican, 1995)

Romeo and Juliet runs in repertoire at the
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon,
from 26 March - 1 October 2004.

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