The National Ballet of Canada

Overview

Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers is brilliantly adapted for dance by choreographer Alexei Ratmansky in this acclaimed production. True to the colour and character of 16th century Verona, the choreography includes fast footwork, expressive pas de deux and inspired ensemble work that drives the story. Romeo and Juliet is a thoughtful and visually striking revival of one of ballet’s great narrative works.

Romeo and Juliet Trailer

The Story

Verona is the site of a longstanding feud between two families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo, a Montague, falls in love with Juliet, a forbidden Capulet, and they marry in secret. When Juliet learns she is pledged in marriage to someone else, she takes a sleeping potion to convince her family she is dead. She sends news of her plan to Romeo but he does not receive it. Believing Juliet dead, Romeo takes his own life and she, on waking, takes hers.

Read Synopsis

Five Things to Know

1. 1Ratmansky incorporates more dancing than some older versions of Romeo and Juliet, replacing certain mime scenes with movement. For example, Romeo’s first sighting of Juliet – and the moment they fall in love – is an exquisite lift sequence that alludes to their soaring hearts.
    
2. 2Sergei Prokofiev’s score has contributed to the enduring popularity of Romeo and Juliet and is one of the finest in ballet history. The music captures the emotion and drives events in the story, using recurring sounds and phrases to define the characters. For example, Juliet is depicted with the quicksilver violins, expressing her youth and innocence.
3.  
4. 3Richard Hudson, the Tony Award-winning designer of The Lion King, designed the sets and costumes. He used Renaissance paintings and frescoes as inspiration for the muted colour palette, fabrics, hats, headdresses and cloaks.
    
5. 4The casting and creation of the ballet were captured in Moze Mossanen’s successful documentary for CBC television, Romeos and Juliets.
    
6. 5Ratmansky has created acclaimed new work for companies around the world and he has a particular interest in ballet history and revivals of legacy works. In addition to Romeo and Juliet, he has staged revivals of The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and La Bayadère.

Watch and Explore

The Art of Sword Fighting in Romeo and Juliet

Five Things About Romeo and Juliet

Ballet Moments: Romeo and Juliet

View Gallery

The Choreographer

Born in St. Petersburg, Alexei Ratmansky is a choreographer and former ballet dancer. He is Artist in Residence at American Ballet Theatre and former Artistic Director of The Bolshoi Ballet. He has created new work for ballet companies around the world, including Romeo and Juliet for The National Ballet of Canada.

The Composer

Sergei Prokofiev was one of the major composers of the 20th century, known and celebrated for his symphonies, operas, piano sonatas and ballets, notably Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella, widely considered his masterpieces.

Reviews

“Finally, a Romeo and Juliet for our time” – Los Angeles Register

“★★★★/4 Thrillingly dramatic… dance drama doesn’t get much better than this.” – Toronto Star

“Of the six versions I have seen by choreographers alive today, this is much the best.” – The New York Times

Casting

Juliet
Heather Ogden (June 15, 21 at 7:30 pm/ June 25 at 2:00 pm)
Sara Mearns*+ (June 16 at 7:30 pm/ June 18 at 2:00 pm)
Tirion Law* (June 17 at 2:00 pm/ June 22 at 7:30 pm)
Chelsy Meiss (June 17, 23 at 7:30 pm)
Genevieve Penn Nabity* (June 22 at 2:00 pm/ June 24 at 7:30 pm)

Romeo
Harrison James (June 15, 21 at 7:30 pm/ June 25 at 2:00 pm)
Guillaume Côté (June 16 at 7:30 pm/ June 18 at 2:00 pm)
Naoya Ebe (June 17 at 2:00 pm/ June 22 at 7:30 pm)
Ben Rudisin (June 17, 23 at 7:30 pm)
Christopher Gerty* (June 22 at 2:00 pm/ June 24 at 7:30 pm)

Mercutio
Jack Bertinshaw (June 15, 21 at 7:30 pm/ June 25 at 2:00 pm)
Spencer Hack (June 16, 24 at 7:30 pm/ June 18, 22 at 2:00 pm)
Siphesihle November (June 17 at 2:00 pm/ June 22 at 7:30 pm)

Benvolio
Albjon Gjorllaku (June 15, 21, 22 at 7:30 pm/June 17, 25 at 2 pm)
Noah Parets* (June 16 at 7:30/June 18 at 2 pm)
Alexander Skinner* (June 17,23 at 7:30 pm)
Kota Sato* (June 22 at 2:00 pm/June 24 at 7:30 pm)

Tybalt
Peng-Fei Jiang (June 15, 17, 21, 23 at 7:30 pm/ June 25 at 2:00 pm)
Josh Hall* (June 16 at 7:30 pm/ June 18 at 2:00 pm)
Piotr Stanczyk (June 17 at 2:00 pm/ June 22 at 7:30 pm)
Ben Rudisin* (June 22 at 2:00 pm/ June 24 at 7:30 pm)

Nurse
Alejandra Perez-Gomez (June 15, 16, 21, 23 at 7:30 pm/ June 18 at 2:00 pm)
Hannah Galway* (June 17 at 2:00 pm/ June 22 at 7:30 pm)
Stephanie Hutchison* (June 17, 24 at 7:30 pm/ June 22, 25 at 2:00 pm)

Friar Laurence
Peter Ottmann† (June 15, 16, 17, 21, 23 at 7:30 pm/June 18, 25 at 2:00 pm)
Teagan Richman-Taylor (June 17, 22 at 2:00 pm/June 22, 24 at 7:30 pm)

Lord Capulet     
Etienne Lavigne† (June 15, 16, 21 at 7:30 pm/June 18, 25 at 2:00 pm)
Jonathan Renna† (June 17, 22 at 2:00 pm/June 22, 24 at 7:30 pm)
Piotr Stanczyk (June 17, 23 at 7:30 pm)

Lady Capulet    
Stephanie Hutchison (June 15, 16, 21, 23 at 7:30 pm/June 18 at 2:00 pm)
Tanya Howard* (June 17 at 2:00 pm/June 22 at 7:30 pm)
Alejandra Perez-Gomez (June 17, 24 at 7:30 pm/June 22, 25 at 2:00 pm)

Lord Montague 
Trygve Cumpston (June 15, 17, 21 at 7:30 pm)
Teagan Richman-Taylor* (June 23 at 7:30 pm)

Lady Montague 
Selene Guerrero-Trujillo (June 15, 16, 24 at 7:30 pm/June 25 at 2:00 pm)
Kathryn Hosier* (June 17, 22 at 2:00 pm/June 22 at 7:30 pm)
Isabelle Bratt* (June 17, 21, 23 at 7:30 pm/June 18 at 2:00 pm)

Duke of Verona
Jonathan Renna† (June 15, 16, 21 at 7:30 pm/June 18, 25 at 2:00 pm)
Peter Ottmann† (June 17 at 2:00 pm/June 22 at 7:30 pm)
Etienne Lavigne† (June 17, 23, 24 at 7:30 pm/June 22 at 2:00 pm)

Paris
Christopher Gerty (June 15 at 7:30 pm/June 25 at 2:00 pm)
Peng-Fei Jiang* (June 16, 24 at 7:30 pm/June 18, 22 at 2:00 pm)
Keaton Leier* (June 17 at 2:00 pm/June 22 at 7:30 pm)
Larkin Miller* (June 17, 21, 23 at 7:30 pm)

*Debut
+Principal Guest Artist
†Guest Artist

Casting subject to change.

Credits

Choreography:
Alexei Ratmansky

Music:
Sergei Prokofiev

Set, Costume and Properties Design:
Richard Hudson

Lighting Design:
Jennifer Tipton

Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, November 16, 2011

Lead philanthropic support for Romeo and Juliet is provided by Sandra Pitblado, C.M & Jim Pitblado, C.M., with additional generous support from Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, an anonymous friend of the National Ballet and Walter Carsen, O.C.

Principal Guest Artist Sara Mearns’ appearance is made possible by The Estate of Katherine Barber.

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following: