Natalie Casey joins Russell Kane in Romeo and Juliet at New Vic Theatre

Natalie Casey has joined the new production of Romeo and Juliet at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Casey, whose recent stage credits include Rock / Paper / Scissors, Guys & Dolls at the Crucible Theatre and Legally Blonde The Musical, will appear opposite comedian Russell Kane, who takes on the role of Romeo. Both performers will be making their debuts at the venue.

Directed by Not Too Tame artistic director Jimmy Fairhurst, the production reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy by presenting the central relationship later in life, with the characters encountering one another after decades rather than in youth. The production marks a new collaboration between the venue and theatre company Not Too Tame.

Fairhurst said: “We saw some incredible actors for this role, but Natalie Casey came in, grabbed the thing by the throat and made it hers. Shakespeare sounding like Shane Meadows. She understood the brief perfectly and delivered Juliet’s struggle, passion and wild joyfulness – before delivering her devastating agony. I was a mess.

“The chemistry between Natalie and Russell is worth the ticket price alone… and we haven’t even started rehearsing yet. The casting of the full powerhouse ensemble is almost in place, and we’re all greyhounds in the trap, eager to start rehearsals. It’ll become brutally clear why we’re ageing the lovers up, but you can rest assured it makes the comedy and tragedy profoundly more devastating, in equal measure. So grab a pint, take a seat and get a load of this.”

The show will run at the New Vic Theatre from 17 September to 10 October 2026, with a press performance scheduled for 22 September.