Shakespeare’s classic tale of young love clashing with family duty has been “paired” down to focus on the tragic love story at the heart of the tale. As the two lovers interact with a silent and invisible cast of Capulets and Montagues, the audience experiences how overwhelmed they were in a world run by adults. All they have is each other. A simple, clear, and fresh telling that is certain to engage students.
Keywords: Shakespeare; Romeo and Juliet; R&J; adaptation; one-act; 50 minutes; tragedy; young love; family feud; Capulets; Montagues; Verona; fate; forbidden love; teen audience; student matinee; school touring; touring production; minimal cast; two-hander; classical text; accessible Shakespeare; curriculum-friendly; youth engagement
Produced by Poor Alex Theatre, Toronto Fringe Festival, July 1999 and by Theatre New Brunswick, New Brunswick Provincial School Tour, 2011
Genre: Adaptation
Acts: 1
Run time: 50 minutes
Suitable for students 14+
Content notes: Contains depictions of/references to: violence, duels, death, suicide/self-harm, grief, intense family conflict, and themes of coercive adult power structures.
Cast size: 2 actors
Male roles: 1
Female roles: 1
Casting notes: The two lovers interact with a silent/invisible ensemble of Capulets and Montagues, heightening the sense of adult world pressure and isolation. Producers are welcome to re-imagine gender in casting.
