RSC announces lead casting for Romeo and Juliet

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced the lead casting for its upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet, which plays the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 2018.

Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour star Karen Fishwick will make her RSC debut playing Juliet alongside Bally Gill as Romeo.

Gill takes on his first leading Shakespeare role with his other stage credits including The Island Nation (Arcola) and Dinner With Saddam (Menier Chocolate Factory). Fishwick's other credits include Glasgow Girls (NTS/Citizens), Hansel and Gretel (Citizens Theatre) and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh).

Directed by RSC's deputy artistic director Erica Whyman, Romeo and Juliet will have designs by Tom Piper and will be broadcast live to cinemas on the 18 July 2018, with a UK tour planned for 2019.

Romeo and Juliet runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 21 April 2018.