Romeo and Juliet, Sadler's Wells

Following the success of its award-winning A Streetcar Named Desire in 2012, the Scottish Ballet returns to Saddler’s Wells with the London premiere of a unique balletic interpretation of Romeo and Juliet. Choreographed in 2008 by Krzysztof Pastor, the ballet gives a compelling contemporary edge to the legendary love story. 

Each of the three acts is updated to a different era of 20th century Italy, reflecting the story’s timeless appeal. The backdrop shifts from the violence of the First World War, through the aftermath of Mussolini’s fascist rule, to the complexity of contemporary conflicts. Amidst the dramatic effect of the shifting setting, the ballet retains Prokofiev’s powerful, lyrical score, performed live by Scottish Ballet’s own orchestra. 

Pastor, resident choreographer at Dutch National Ballet, has gained an international reputation for devising almost 50 visionary ballets. His  Romeo and Juliet  was created for the Scottish Ballet, whose dancers bring the roles to life with passionate intensity.  The staging shows how the division between the houses of Montague and Capulet in sixteenth-century Verona is echoed in contemporary conflicts. Set and costume designer Tatyana Van Walsum portrays the shifts in the plot through monochrome for WW1, sepia for the post-fascist world and the blue glow of television screens in the media-dominated contemporary backdrop.

The production was highly acclaimed when first performed in 2008. Scottish Ballet’s artistic director, Christopher Hampson is enthusiastic about its return: ‘To be involved with bringing one of the Company’s most loved productions back to the stage is both an honour and a great opportunity.’ It is also a great opportunity for London audiences to see a stunning balletic reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s most famous love story.