Romeo & Juliet headlines our spring/summer 2025 season

We’re thrilled to announced over 100 new shows, including our first home-produced Shakespeare production in over a decade.

Browse the Brochure

Romeo & Juliet will be the second drama produced by Exeter Northcott after our three-year hiatus was broken by the five-star “stunning world premiere” (The Stage) of The Commotion Time in October. It will also be the second production directed for the theatre by our Creative Director and Joint Chief Executive, Martin Berry, who has directed over 40 productions, including seven Shakespeare plays. Alongside the professional cast, Romeo & Juliet will feature an ensemble of local young performers.

Take a Look

Romeo & Juliet artwork. A single rose stem is suspended in mid-air as if thrown, its red bud on fire and emitting sparks and light. The background is an orange-tinged street lined with tall buildings. The air is smoky and filled with glass and rubble. Text reads ‘Exeter Northcott presents Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, directed by Martin Berry’.

I’m 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. We’re delighted to be creating so many opportunities for people to not just watch world-class theatre, but also to play an active part in it.

Martin Berry, Creative Director and Joint Chief Executive

Choir performing at the Devon Choirs Big Weekender on the Northcott Stage. All singers are stretching their arms out straight into the air.

We have also announced three brand-new regular groups for adults: Encore Dance, for people over 50; The Northcott People’s Company, offering the opportunity to explore drama techniques, practitioners, plays, and characters; and The Northcott Theatre Choir.

The season also includes a number of one-off events for local community members to get involved in: The Devon Choirs Big Weekender will welcome South-West choirs to perform on the main stage, participate in workshops with industry professionals, and celebrate the joy of singing; four standalone evening workshops will cover a range of theatre making skills, including interpreting Shakespeare in the Exploring Romeo & Juliet workshops for children and adults.

Find Out More

Another key theme of the programme is supporting artists with strong links to the South West. Interactive documentary theatre show Is Anybody There? (pictured) is inspired by the writer and performer Jon Nash’s experiences at the University of Exeter. Baby Panda Productions are bringing Five Little Monkeys to the Barnfield Theatre, after completing a research and development process there earlier this year. Original dark comedy Pot licker is written and directed by Ed Viney, who has worked extensively with theatres across the South West, including Bath Theatre Royal and Bristol Old Vic.

Four performers in regency dresses stand on a grand white staircase in front of a pinkish sky. All of them are holding microphones in one hand, and reaching the other outwards.

Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic

Other highlights of the season include the return of Edinburgh Fringe favourite …Earnest? and five-star West End hit Pride and Prejudice (*Sort Of), alongside a huge range of dance, opera, stand-up, family shows, talks, and music.

Audio-described, sign-language interpreted, captioned, and relaxed performances are available for a range of shows throughout the season.

Access Performances

Browse the full Spring/Summer 2024 season.

What’s On