Cast for Romeo and Juliet tour revealed

ETT, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Leeds Playhouse and Nottingham Playhouse have announced casting for a new production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, directed by Chelsea Walker, on a UK tour from January 2027.

The production will open at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, running from 30 January to 27 February 2027, with a press night on 4 February. It will then visit Leeds Playhouse (3 to 20 March), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford (23 to 27 March), Northern Stage in Newcastle (13 to 17 April) and Nottingham Playhouse (20 April to 8 May).

The cast includes Matthew Anthony Ralph, making his professional stage debut as Romeo, opposite Lauren Conroy as Juliet.

They are joined by Catrin Aaron as Sister, Marlowe Chan-Reeves as Paris, Ryan Hunter as Tybalt, Lewis MacDougall as Mercutio, Adam McNamara as Capulet, Okiki Oladapo, making his stage debut, as Benvolio, and Anna Russell-Martin as Nurse.

The production is described as a contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, following two teenagers who fall in love while their families are in conflict.

Walker, who returns to ETT following productions including A Streetcar Named Desire and Cougar, 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.”

The creative team includes designer Georgia Lowe, sound designer Pete Malkin, lighting designer Lizzie Powell, video designer Lewis Den Hertog, composer Max Perryment, movement and intimacy director Lucy Hinds, casting director Becky Paris, fight director Carter Ferguson and associate director Vaila Anderson.