Ahead of our production of Romeo & Juliet in July 2025, take a deep dive into our production and the history of Shakespeare’s work at the Northcott.
Why Romeo & Juliet Still Matters
Join Martin Berry, our Creative Director and Joint CEO, and Pascale Aebischer, Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Performance Studies at the University of Exeter, in a conversation about the timeless importance of Romeo & Juliet.
Bringing Shakespeare back to the Northcott
We’re thrilled to be bringing Shakespeare back to our iconic stage, with a first-rate professional cast alongside young local talent. Like our entire Spring/Summer programme, this production has been shaped by conversations with our community about what they want to see on our stages.
Exeter Northcott Joint Chief Executives, Emma Stephenson, Kelly Johnson, and Martin Berry
Although Romeo & Juliet is our first Made by Exeter Northcott Shakespeare production in over decade, the theatre has a long history of producing plays by the Bard. “There is a rich Shakespearean lineage here at the Northcott.” adds Martin, “From its earliest days, the theatre has staged bold and ambitious productions of his work. It’s an honour to continue that legacy, and to do so with a vision rooted in the South West.”
We staged 1 – 2 Shakespeare plays every year from 1967 – 1979. From 1980, we staged a further fourteen Shakespeare plays at the Northcott, before beginning annual Shakespeare in the Gardens shows in Rougemont Gardens in 1994.
You can explore posters of some of our Shakespeare productions from the archive below.
Bringing Romeo & Juliet back to the Northcott
This year’s Romeo & Juliet will be our third ever production of the play. The previous productions were in 2002 (pictured) and 2009.
According to the reviews, our 2002 production was “something special… truly moving” (Express & Echo), “another in the Northcott’s outstanding series of Shakespeare in Rougemont Gardens” (Evening Herald), and “a magical presentation of the world’s most famous love story” (Culture3) with a special mention for Eva Bartley, who was “a revelation as Juliet” (Herald Express).
The Daily Mail observed that Romeo & Juliet’s “tale of young love under fire in a hostile, strife-bound community was never more pertinent”, a statement which still rings true today. Our 2025 production will ask what happens to young people in a divided society, and bring home the inescapable truth that a peaceful world can only be achieved through compassion, love, and understanding.
Making the Music
Although our production of Romeo & Juliet is set in the 21st century, the soundtrack draws heavily from the 1990s, featuring music from The Prodigy, Dr Dre, Chemical Brothers, and Muse.
“The ’90s bring a rich emotional palette that fits the raw intensity of the play,” says director Martin Berry, “From grunge and Britpop to early R&B, the music speaks to a generation defined by both angst and hope. There’s also a sense of nostalgia that helps bridge the generational gap — older audiences will remember their youth, while younger ones connect with the authenticity of the era’s sound.”
Our Sound Designer Robin Colyer adds “Shakespeare’s original audiences spoke of ‘hearing’ a play rather than ‘seeing’ one — a reminder that although we’ve used a modern soundtrack for this production, sound has always been vital to how his stories are experienced… The sounds and music in this production are designed to support and amplify the emotional journey of the play, from its moments of tender intimacy to its devastating tragedies.”
Watch the video to find out more about how Robin is taking classic ’90s tracks and reworking them for Romeo & Juliet.
Making the World
“One of the things I love about being a designer is the fact that you get to work creatively in a team” says our Set and Costume Designer Fi Russell, “So much of the inspiration came from the brilliant conversations I had early on with Director Martin and Composer Robin. We wanted to create a world that would be relatable to our young people today, transposing the setting to modern day UK, casting a young vital cast and creating a soundtrack that will give the Spotify generation the feels.
“The famous opening line ‘Two households, both alike in dignity’ doesn’t actually specify that the families have to be rich, which can feel alienating in our increasingly disparate world. So instead we invite you not to ‘fair Verona’ but to ‘Verona Place’ a corner of a nondescript 60s-build council estate in the heat of summer, under a big brooding sky, where two powerful families vie for control.”
Inside the rehearsal room
More to come! Don’t forget to check back here and keep an eye on our social media accounts for more insights behind the scenes as we get closer to opening night.
Romeo & Juliet will be performed at Exeter Northcott 2 – 12 Jul, with relaxed, audio-described, and BSL-interpreted performances available. Tickets start from £19.50, with 20% off for members and discounts available for group bookings and U26 members.
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