Lauren Conroy and Matthew Anthony Ralph will play the title roles in Chelsea Walker's Romeo and Juliet, which opens in Edinburgh on 30 January 2027 before touring to Leeds, Guildford, Newcastle and Nottingham.
English Touring Theatre (ETT) has named the company for Romeo and Juliet, a new staging of Shakespeare's tragedy that it co-produces with the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Leeds Playhouse and Nottingham Playhouse. Chelsea Walker directs.
Matthew Anthony Ralph plays Romeo in his professional stage debut. Lauren Conroy is Juliet.
The rest of the cast is Catrin Aaron as Sister, Marlowe Chan-Reeves as Paris, Ryan Hunter as Tybalt, Lewis MacDougall as Mercutio, Adam McNamara as Capulet, Anna Russell-Martin as Nurse and Okiki Oladapo as Benvolio, also a stage debut.
The production is a contemporary version of the play: two teenagers fall for each other while their families are locked in a feud. Walker, whose credits include A Streetcar Named Desire and Cougar, returns to ETT to direct it. ETT recommends it for ages 11 and over.
Walker said: "I am thrilled to join forces with ETT, The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Leeds Playhouse and Nottingham Playhouse to direct Romeo and Juliet. It's a play I've always wanted to direct, and it feels more urgent and moving now than ever before, in a world where decisions are made in the blink of an eye and people are forced to grow up younger and younger. We have put together a really exciting, talented company of actors and creatives. I can't wait to start rehearsals with them in Edinburgh - we're ready to breathe new life into Shakespeare's ever-resonant masterpiece."
Georgia Lowe designs, with lighting by Lizzie Powell, sound by Pete Malkin, video by Lewis Den Hertog and music by Max Perryment. Lucy Hinds is movement and intimacy director, Carter Ferguson fight director, Becky Paris casting director and Vaila Anderson associate director.
The tour runs as follows:
- 30 January - 27 February 2027: Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh (press night 4 February)
- 3-20 March 2027: Leeds Playhouse, Leeds
- 23-27 March 2027: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
- 13-17 April 2027: Northern Stage, Newcastle
- 20 April - 8 May 2027: Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham
For more information, visit the official website.
