Sunderland staging of greatest love story ever told

Romeo and Juliet will be brought to life by Birmingham Royal Ballet at its home in the North East this March.

In 2016, Birmingham Royal Ballet commemorates 400 years since the death of arguably the world’s most prolific playwright with a national tour of an adaptation of his tale of star-crossed lovers, Kenneth Macmillan’s Romeo and Juliet.

William Shakespeare’s tragic and passionate narrative comes to life in this epic production featuring design by Paul Andrews recreating the grandeur and heat of Verona with gargantuan pillars and Italian architectural style.

A cast of over fifty dancers execute Macmillan’s choreography, from the balcony scene’s romantic, ecstatic pas de deux to large-scale fight scenes and the lovers’ heart-breaking end.

The spectacle is accompanied by Prokofiev’s instantly recognisable score, played live by the sixty musicians that make up the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Separated by feuding families, Romeo and Juliet embark on a passionate yet fatally doomed love affair in a story that has captured the hearts of theatregoers for hundreds of years.

As part of Birmingham Royal Ballets ongoing commitment to involving audiences in the creative process a range of opportunities are available to go behind the scenes with the company including:

•Friday, March 18 (6.30pm) - ticket holders to the evening performance are invited to join a select panel of some of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s most influential creative forces as they discuss life as part of a world-renowned ballet company in a pre-show talk at 6.30pm (free to ticket holders but pre-booking essential).

•Saturday, March 19 (11.15am) – members of the public are invited behind closed doors as the Company of dancers open up their daily class. This is a rare and fascinating opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes to witness the preparation and dedication needed to be part of the UK’s leading touring classical ballet company. Ticketed event £10pp and pre-booking essential.

•Saturday, March 19 (12.30pm) – ticket holders to matinee performance will have the opportunity to take part in unique family fun day which includes insight sessions and the chance to go behind the scenes with Birmingham Royal Ballet.

•Romeo and Juliet is at Sunderland Empire from March 17-19. Tickets are available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022 or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland.

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