A classroom. Twenty bored, disgruntled high school students. A young, rookie substitute teacher. The play they’re studying? Romeo And Juliet. What could possibly go wrong? Lots. But somehow, amid the chaos, passion, and violence many things go right as the play erupts in, on, and around the desks of the classroom. Rulers, books, pens and pencils become weapons. Students become Juliet, Mercutio, Romeo and – sometimes in the blink of an eye – return back to being students. The play erupts in their imaginations in front of our eyes and no one, not the students, not the teacher, not the audience are ever the same again.
Keywords: Shakespeare, high school, love, tragedy, allegiances, learning, teaching shakespeare, violence, language, hope, death
Produced by Persephone Theatre Young Company, Saskatoon 2016 & Saskatoon Fringe, Saskatoon SK, 2019
Genre: Shakespeare adaptation, Dramatic Comedy, TYA
Acts: 2
Run time: 110 minutes
Suitable for students 14+
Content notes: Thematically this adaptation is meant to ask questions about youth violence as well as other important questions. The more watered down the violence appears, the less impact this theme has. The original production was raw and somewhat terrifying. There is some swearing but any school or company has the freedom to adjust this if they wish. Many many high schools attended the productions. There were no complaints. Please read the production notes carefully and contact the playwright for additional questions.
Cast size: 20 actors
Casting notes: The production notes suggest diverse casting and interchangeable role - male, female, non-binary. In both past productions Romeo and Juliet were played by females with no attempt to make Romeo male. Virtually all roles can be of any gender according to company/school choices. Much doubling. All students play high school students as well as Shakespeare characters. The play is meant to be performed by young people between the ages of 15-20.