Romeo and Juliet

Story

In Verona, the Montagues and Capulets are two powerful families caught in a bitter feud. At a masked ball, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet meet and fall deeply in love. They must keep their feelings a secret but when the feud between the families comes to a head, what steps will Romeo and Juliet take to be together?

Why we chose it

Shakespeare’s story of doomed lovers was a popular success in his day and still is in the 21st century. It is one of Shakespeare’s most performed plays.

Where it came from

Stories of the forbidden love between Romeo and Juliet go back to medieval Italian texts, many of which contain the same characters and plots. But Shakespeare’s main source was a translation of the 1567 poem The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet.

Where it went next

Romeo and Juliet has inspired countless adaptations in film, TV, theatre, books, ballets, and Broadway productions. The story of the star-crossed lovers influenced the musical and film West Side Story (1957, 1961) as well as the 1996 Baz film starring Leonardo di Caprio and Claire Danes in the title roles. Juliet’s lines ‘Wherefore art thou Romeo?’ and her balcony have become iconic.

Associated stories

Romeo and Juliet shares many themes with Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream which was written around the same time, as well as with his sonnets. Tragic stories of doomed lovers are found in ancient Latin literature, in Ovid’s poems as well as the plays and poems of Christopher Marlowe (Hero and Leander), Shakespeare’s main rival.