NEW VIC THEATRE · STOKE · 2026
ROMEO
& JULIET
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jimmy Fairhurst · Created by Not Too Tame
A New Vic Theatre & Not Too Tame co-production
Nothing breaks your heart like losing your first love. And it hits even harder when it's taken 40 years to find it.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 · STARRING RUSSELL KANE AND NATALIE CASEY
THE PRODUCTION
TWO HOUSES. ONE ELECTRIFYING PRODUCTION.
Russell Kane plays Romeo in this exhilarating new production of Shakespeare's classic tragedy. This first love feels like the last chance saloon. When Juliet meets Romeo across a crowded dance floor, sparks fly!
Can the swagger of experience, and the optimism of youth, survive lost loved ones, toxic family members, manipulation and betrayal? Can it endure streets balanced on a knife-edge, where sudden violence threatens to erupt at every turn?
“Romeo & Juliet is our third Shakespeare adaptation, and it'll be the one that packs the biggest punch… I guarantee it will be as funny as it is heartbreaking. Buckle up!” — Jimmy Fairhurst, director
Standing ovations from previews right through to the final performance.
Dates
17 September – 10 October 2026
Venue
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Age guidance
14+ · contains depictions of violence
What the critics said
★★★★★
“One of the best productions I've seen in a long time — an absolute must-see”
★★★★★
“It's a glimpse of beauty that Shakespeare might never have thought of”
★★★★★
“Shakespeare done differently, but done in a way which resonates with the audience”
★★★★★
“Energetic, poetic, atmospheric and simply… beautiful”
★★★★
“It is a production that proves Shakespeare can be both brilliantly accessible and incredibly exciting”
★★★★
“Not Too Tame's Romeo & Juliet is a vibrant, inventive and thought-provoking take on a timeless tale”
★★★★
“The high-energy, high-kicks, full-volume performances make the show hugely entertaining”
Watch
In rehearsal
Gallery
Photography — Patch Dolan Photography
