Western Summer Shakespeare - Romeo & Juliet

Romeo & Juliet has been one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays for centuries, with countless re-stagings, retellings and adaptations worldwide. Its ubiquity and single-thread plot line make R&J one of the most accessible plays in the Shakespearean canon and a surefire draw for audiences around the globe. Its themes of division, hate, and, ultimately love, remain powerful messages even in the modern day.

This adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy moves the story forward seven centuries from 14th century Verona to a modern-day high school in southwestern Ontario. Romeo, the 18-year-old daughter of single mother Montague, has known since she was little that boys were never in her future. With the support of her progressive mother and her accepting circle of close friends, Romeo has blossomed into her sexuality and is proud and out in her high school, despite the negative opinions of some others in town. Juliet, the 18-year-old daughter of the ultra-conservative Capulets, has always thought her life was pre-destined: once she finishes her education, she will make the seamless transition from obedient daughter to the obedient wife of town golden boy, Paris. However, when she meets Romeo at the Capulet’s annual fundraiser, she starts to question the values with which she was raised, the future that’s been written for her, and even her own feelings. As young love blooms amongst bigoted hate, tragedy is sure to strike.

Tickets: Tickets are available for purchase through Eventbrite here.

Location: Outdoors at Western in Beryl Ivey Gardens, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 3K7

The Beryl Ivey Gardens are located behind the University College building on the main campus of Western University in London, Ontario. Behind its historic facade, you will find a lush garden with an entryway marked by a vine-covered trellis.

About: Western Summer Shakespeare is a longstanding tradition in the London community. It is outdoor theatre, staged on campus at Western University. The first Western Summer Shakespeare performance took place on 4 August 1981, making it the longest running campus, or indeed outdoor, Summer Shakespeare in Canada - longer than the Dream in High Park by two years!