Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre has announced the full cast of Romeo and Juliet, its new production of Shakespeare’s tragedy which will be scored with rap and R&B.
As previously announced, Mia Khan will play Juliet while Kyle Ndukuba will make his professional debut as Romeo.
The rest of the cast comprises Yasmin Wilde (Friar Lawrence), Natasha Lewis (Nurse), stage debutant Asheq Akhtar (Lord Capulet), Lauren Moakes (Lady Capulet), Dillon Scott-Lewis (Mercutio), Andre Antonio (Benvolio), Sam Gosrani (Tybalt), Elwyn Williams (Paris), Ellena Vincent (Montague), Pete Ashmore (Prince Escalus) and Ayesha Patel (Rosalind).
A co-production with Bristol Old Vic and Hackney Empire, Romeo and Juliet will be directed by the Belgrade’s creative director Corey Campbell. The play will be a collaboration with Midlands artists That’s A Rap (lyrics) and A Class (music). A community choir and young practitioners from the Belgrade ensemble will perform alongside the professional company.
Campbell said, “the story’s emotional core—two people who shouldn’t love each other doing so despite the cost—remains hugely relevant. Their love is the only thing that forces their parents, the politicians, to wake up and see that love is better than war.”
Romeo and Juliet will open at the Belgrade from Friday 21 February until Saturday 8 March, with a national press night on Wednesday 26 February. It will transfer to Bristol Old Vic from Wednesday 12 March until Saturday 5 April and Hackney Empire from Wednesday 23 until Saturday 26 April.