Shakespeare and Rap. A Love Story.

Romeo and Juliet at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.

Romeo and Juliet at The Belgrade Theatre, from Friday 21 February – Saturday 8 March 2025. Directed by Corey Campbell. Lyrics by That’s A Rap. Music by A Class.

Preview.

Romeo and Juliet, an innovative new version of Shakespeare’s play, originally scored with rap and R&B, opens at the Belgrade Theatre from 21 February – 8 March 2025, with a national press night on Wed 26 February 2025 before playing in Bristol from 12 March – 5 April 2025, and at Hackney Empire 23 – 26 April 2025. Mia Khan will play ‘Juliet’ opposite Kyle Ndukuba as ‘Romeo’, with full casting to be announced in the new year.

Some aspects of this new, innovative co-production of Romeo and Juliet aren’t new at all.

Everything that makes Shakespeare’s play so well loved is here. The rich, feuding families. The intense, forbidden passion. And the flash of violence that tears the young lovers apart, sending them spiralling towards tragedy.

This is unmistakeably Shakespeare’s love story, unaltered in its original text. But it’s not just Shakespeare’s play. There is an important Plus One: rap.

Kyle Ndukuba plays Romeo. Photo courtesy of the Belgrade Theatre.

Our story shines with new, original elements of rap – as well as soul and R&B. Think everyday English as well as the Elizabethan variety. And the poetry of rap rhythms as well as perfect pentameters.

Romeo and Juliet is a co-production with Bristol Old Vic and Hackney Empire. Directed by Corey Campbell, creative director of the Belgrade, the play springs from our communities. The music elements reflect a collaboration with new company, That’s a Rap. And we’ve worked with local young people who have been taken out of mainstream education, on the production.

Mia Khan plays Juliet. Photo courtesy of the Belgrade Theatre.

Together, something unique has been created. A Shakespearean lyrical love story – for people who love the music of the spoken word of every generation.

Post-show Q&A: Thursday 27 February. Schools’ Q&A: Thursday 6 March after the 1pm matinee.

For further information on school resources and a workshop for 90 young people, plus performance times and to book tickets go to:  https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/romeo-and-juliet