The city of Verona, torn apart by the violent feud between the families of Montague and Capulet, is a powder keg waiting to explode; the Prince of Verona, seeking to restore order, has declared any breach of the peace punishable by death. But for Montague Romeo, and his lover, the Capulet Juliet, the enmity of their families is immaterial.

'Shakespeare invented the human as we continue to know it' Harold Bloom

Set in a city torn apart by feuds and gang warfare, Shakespeare's immortal drama tells the story of star-crossed lovers, rival dynasties and bloody revenge. Romeo and Juliet is a hymn to youth and the thrill of forbidden love, charged with sexual passion and violence, but also a warning of death: a dazzling combination of bawdy comedy and high tragedy.

Used and Recommended by the National Theatre

General Editor Stanley Wells
Edited by T. J. B. Spencer
Introduction by Adrian Poole