WARRING FAMILIES
In Verona, Italy, there is an ongoing hate campaign between two noble families: the Capulets and the Montagues. In the city street, a Capulet bites his thumb at a Montague, a big insult. A fight breaks out but the Prince Escalus, who rules over Verona, has had enough. He declares that the next person to start a fight will be killed. We meet Romeo, who is lovesick over a girl called Rosaline. Rosaline is invited to the Capulets' party that night and Romeo decides to crash the party. Meanwhile, Lord Capulet is visited by another nobleman called Paris. Paris wants to marry Capulet’s daughter, Juliet, who is thirteen. The Capulets decide it’s a good match and Juliet is told by her mother that she will marry Paris soon.
LOVE THY ENEMY
Romeo and his friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, crash the Capulets' party. Amused by his lovesick friend, Mercutio tells Romeo of Queen Mab, the queen of sleep and dreams. But as soon as Romeo sees Juliet, all thoughts of Rosaline are forgotten. The two teenagers speak briefly and fall instantly in love. Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, is angry that Romeo is there but Lord Capulet forbids him to fight. Juliet is told by her Nurse that Romeo is a Montague. Benvolio and Mercutio search for Romeo but he gives them the slip and climbs into Juliet’s garden. She appears on her balcony and starts to speak about Romeo. Romeo emerges from the shadows and they confess their love for each other. They kiss and plan to get married the next day. Full of the joys of first love, Juliet talks about nothing but Romeo and gets teased by her Nurse. With the help of two adults, the Nurse and Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet get married in secret.
BANISHMENT
Tybalt searches for Romeo, wanting a fight. Mercutio challenges Tybalt who ends up killing Mercutio. In anger, Romeo kills Tybalt and gets banished from Verona. Juliet is horrified by the news and Romeo comes to visit her to spend their wedding night together before he flees. Meanwhile Lord and Lady Capulet tell Juliet she will marry Paris or be thrown out of the house. Desperate, Juliet goes to Friar Laurence for help. The Friar wants to help the young lovers and gives Juliet a potion to drink that will make her look as if she’s dead. She will be laid out in the family's burial tomb and, when she wakes up, Friar Laurence will help them run away together as man and wife. Alone, Juliet drinks the potion and falls asleep.
TRAGEDY
Friar Laurence writes to Romeo to tell him of the plan but the letter does not reach him. Juliet is laid to rest and Romeo is told that Juliet has died. He buys poison to kill himself and goes to see her body. Paris is at the tomb and challenges Romeo, who kills him, then drinks the poison. Friar Laurence arrives but it is too late, Juliet wakes up and sees Romeo's dead body. Heartbroken, she kisses his poisoned lips then takes his knife and kills herself. Both families see the bodies and regret their fighting, knowing it has cost these young innocent lives. They vow to end their feud.
Explore the story of Romeo and Juliet in more detail with our Shakespeare Learning Zone.
Production Notes
Our First Encounters production has been given a brand-new edit by Robin Belfield. During his editing process, Robin made many cuts and changes to the play. These included:
- Creating audience participation by giving some of the Prince’s lines to a Council of Young People. This Council will be played by local students, giving the youth in each area an active voice.
- Characters involving the audience directly, such as Lord Capulet giving an audience member a guest list to his party, so they feel constantly involved in the action.
- Writing detailed stage directions so the action and decision making of the characters is clear.
- Making some of the speeches shorter so the action flows more quickly.
