This autumn, Ballet Ireland present their critically-acclaimed version of Romeo and Juliet, the tale of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, accompanied by Prokofiev’s incredible music and performed by a cast of world-class dancers.

Based on Shakespeare’s story of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Against a backdrop of ancient feuds and gang warfare, the ill-fated young couple falls hopelessly in love, but their families are bitter enemies. In order to be together the two lovers must be prepared to risk everything.

Following Ballet Ireland’s hugely successful production of Giselle earlier this year, the company’s critically-acclaimed Romeo & Juliet will be in 24 venues throughout Ireland this autumn, including performances at Draíocht, Blanchardstown Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th November, and the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin Wednesday 15th to Saturday, 18th November.

In this version, choreographed by Morgann Runacre-Temple and with Prokofiev’s stunning music, Shakespeare’s tragic tale is transported from the streets of medieval Verona into the classrooms of a modern-day high school and becomes a play within a play. The Chaplain at a school, divided by gangs and violence, brings a fight to a close. He, together with their form teacher, attempts to show the futility of such behaviour by introducing the pupils to the play Romeo & Juliet, with the feuding Montague and Capulet families, and the story of the doomed love affair between the heirs of these two feuding tribes. Each pupil is assigned a character and the action ensues…

The result is a heart stopping ballet with a dazzling combination of passion and hatred, comedy and high tragedy.

Choreographer Morgann Runacre-Temple says, “To make the tale of Romeo and Juliet feel alive to a modern audience, to take away the swords, long dresses and the men in tights, the 400 years of re-tellings, was my ambition for this ballet. I wanted to dive straight into the catastrophic choices two teenagers make in order to be together just 24 hours after their first meeting. For me Romeo and Juliet is about love but also fantasy, in our wildest dreams – what we are prepared to risk for the chance of true love, no matter how fleeting, or how high the stakes may be?”

Anne Maher, Director of Ballet Ireland, says, “We’re delighted to be bringing Morgann’s exciting and beautifully-crafted Romeo & Juliet to audiences throughout the country this autumn. Morgann is one of Europe’s leading female choreographers, and has created several ballets for us. This season’s Romeo & Juliet follows the creation of Ludovic Ondiviela’s critically acclaimed Giselle for the company earlier this year.”

CREATIVE TEAM

Choreography: Morgann Runacre-Temple
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Stage Design: Eye-Catching Design
Lighting Design: Zia Holly

DUBLIN PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Draíocht, Blanchardstown Friday 03 & Saturday 04 November, 8pm
Tickets: €22/ €18 conc, €16 Groups 10+
Booking: (01) 885 2622 / draiocht.ie

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin Wednesday 15 – Saturday 18 November, 7:30pm
Tickets: €26 – €45*
Booking: 0818 719 388 / Ticketmaster
*Tickets inclusive of Ticketmaster booking fee

“Runacre-Temple taps into a zeitgeist so many other ballet companies desperately want to access right now, making relevant what is often seen as an elitist artform while still honouring its roots…Runacre-Temple gets it” – Christie Seaver, The Irish Times October 2010