Romeo + Juliet

Hippodrome Associate Rosie Kay’s Romeo + Juliet is a new interpretation of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy, re-told through the lens of 21st century gang culture, set in the stiflingly hot Birmingham summer of 2021. A diverse cast of young athletic performers represent the city in a riotous new dance piece which explores knife crime, gang-allegiances and the intricacies of forbidden love across racial boundaries between Black and South Asian communities. Rosie Kay’s Juliet is a strong, intelligent and athletic young Black female whose older brother is a dominant gang leader. The balance is upset when Juliet falls for Romeo, a young South Asian male dedicated to his own gang and their rivalries but at heart an artist and dreamer.