 |
Romeo and Juliet
by
William Shakespeare
Directed by Sonia Dykstra
27th June - 1st July, 2007
Open-Air Shakespeare on the lawns of Gawsworth.
The Montagues are recognised by Juliet's cousin Tybalt and are forced to leave the party just as Romeo and Juliet have each discovered the others identity. Romeo lingers near the Capulet's house and talks with Juliet when she appears on her balcony. With the help of Juliet's Nurse, the lovers arrange to meet next day at the cell of Friar Lawrence when Juliet goes for confession, and there they are married.
Tybalt picks a quarrel with Mercutio and his friends and Mercutio is accidentally killed as Romeo intervenes to try to break up the fight. In anger Romeo pursues Tybalt, kills him and is banished by the Prince for the deed. Juliet is anxious that Romeo is late meeting her and learns of the fighting from her Nurse. With Friar Lawrence's help it is arranged that Romeo will spend the night with Juliet before taking refuge at Mantua.
To calm the family's sorrow at Tybalt's death the day for the marriage of Juliet to Paris is brought forward.
Capulet and his wife are angry that Juliet does not wish to be Paris's bride, not knowing of her secret contract with Romeo. Friar Lawrence helps Juliet by providing a sleeping draught, and when the wedding party arrives to greet Juliet the next day they believe she is dead. The Friar sends a colleague to warn Romeo to come to the Capulet's family monument to rescue his sleeping wife.
The message miscarries and Romeo, hearing instead that Juliet is dead, buys poison in Mantua. He returns to Verona and goes to the tomb where he surprises and kills the mourning Paris. Romeo takes his poison and dies just as Juliet awakes from her drugged sleep. She learns what has happened from Friar Lawrence but she refuses to leave the tomb and stabs herself as the Friar returns with the Prince, the Capulets and Romeo’s lately widowed father. The deaths of their children lead the families to make peace, promising to erect a monument in their memory.
Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's earliest tragedies and was probably written in 1594 or 1595. It was often played publicly before it was printed in 1597.
| Prince Escalus, of Verona |
Mark Jephcott |
| Mercutio, Kinsman of the Prince and friend of Romeo |
Ed Livesley |
| Count Paris, Kinsman of the Prince and suitor of Juliet |
Alex Bingle |
| Page to Count Paris |
Dave Hodgson |
| Lord Montague, Head of a Veronese family |
Martin Pritchard |
| Lady Montague |
Jill Damen |
| Romeo, son of Montague |
Simon Ginty |
| Benvolio, friend to Romeo and Mercutio |
Phil Duncan |
| Balthasar, servant to Montague |
Louis Davis |
| Lord Capulet, Head of a Veronese family |
Geoff Bird |
| Lady Capulet |
Marina Anderson |
| Juliet, daughter of Capulet |
Hannah Atkinson |
| Tybalt, nephew of Lady Capulet |
Ric Hazlewood |
| Nurse, Juliet's foster mother |
Adele Taylor |
| Countess Capulet |
Sheila Hine |
| Peter, a servant of Capulet |
Richard Frost |
| Friar Lawrence, a Franciscan |
Steve Williamson |
| Friar John, a Franciscan |
Arwel Pritchard |
| An Apothecary of Mantua |
Peter de la Wyche |
| First Watchman |
Chris Simmons |
| Second Watchman |
Ed Livesley |
| Third Watchman |
Phil Duncan |
| Ladies |
| Jennifer Atherton, Helen Bingle, Shan Bristow, Alexandra Howarth, June Janes, Elise Johnson, Daphne Martin, Patti Wheeler |
| Gentlemen |
| David Hodgson, Arwel Pritchard, Chris Simmons |
| Choreography |
Alexandra Howarth |
| Stage Manager |
Jan Atkinson |
| ASMs |
| Dave Atkinson, Celia Bonner, Anne Cichocki, Colette Fitton, Helen Fitton, Simon Janes, Mary Pritchard |
| Wardrobe |
Carole Holmes
and The Green Room Wardrobe Team |
| Properties |
Diana Boswell |
| Sound |
Robin Watkinson |
| Lighting |
Robin Watkinson |
| Prompt |
Christina Howarth |
| Fight Director |
Renny Krupinski |
| Rehearsal Photography |
Chris Hills |
| The Green Room is particularly proud of the many new young members who have come forward for this production of Romeo and Juliet following publicity in the press, all keen to be involved |
|
|
