Sorry, Romeo and Juliet closed on 13 Aug 2016

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About the show

As part of the Kenneth Branagh season, Branagh directs Shakepseare’s most famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet with Lily James and Richard Madden, stars of his recent Disney live action Cinderella, as the eponymous lovers. Branagh has also opted for the exciting and unconventional casting choice of 77 year old Derek Jacobi in the role of Romeo's friend Mercutio.

Written early in Shakespeare’s career and published in 1597 Romeo and Juliet remains one of his most popular and frequently performed plays. Set in Verona Romeo and Juliet tells the story of two warring families the Montagues and Capulets. When Romeo son of the Montague family falls for Juliet daughter of the Capulet family there is hope that their love will reconcile the arch enemies however thanks to a misunderstanding the two families are brought together in the tragic death of the young lovers.

Lily James rose to fame starring as Lady Rose MacClare in popular period drama Downton Abbey. No stranger to treading the boards she has previously appeared in Vernon God Little (Young Vic), The Seagul (Southwark Playhouse) and Othello alongside Dominic West and Clarke Peters (Sheffield Crucible). Richard Madden is famed for playing Rob Stark in hit HBO series Game of Thrones. This will not be the first time he has played Romeo previously starring in a production at The Globe theatre and on tour.

Meera Syal (Goodness Gracious Me) joins the cast as the Nurse, alongside James, Madden and Jacobi. Further casting includes Marisa Berenson (Design for Living) as Lady Capulet, Jack Colgrave Hirst as Benvolio, Tom Hanson as Paris, Ansu Kabia as Tybalt, Chris Porter as Lord Montague, Zoe Rainey as Lady Montague, Michael Rouse as Lord Capulet and Sam Valentine as Friar Laurence. Additional cast members include Matthew Hawksley, Taylor James, Racheal Ofori, Nikki Patel and Kathryn Wilder.

Kenneth Branagh is an Academy Award nominated and BAFTA Award winning director famed for his film adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays. Branagh has previously directed Romeo and Juliet in 1986 at the Lyric Studio a production in which he co-starred with Samantha Bond. More recently Branagh has co-directed a stage production of Macbeth with Robert Ashford at Manchester International festival and later in New York to wide acclaim.

Romeo and Juliet played at the Garrick theatre from the 12th of May 2016 until the 13th of August 2016.