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National Theater: Romeo and Juliet | Great Performances

Juliet and Romeo, dressed in modern fashion, holding hands and running
Courtesy of Sebastian Nevols
/
PBS
Jessie Buckley and Josh O’Connor.";

Fri. Apr. 23 at 9pm on WKAR-HD 23.1 & STREAMING | Experience Shakespeare’s tragedy from the National Theatre starring Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley.This stylized film of Shakespeare’s masterpiece celebrates the theatrical imagination, moving from the stripped-down aesthetic of a rehearsal into a cinematic journey that embraces the architecture of the theater space and varied backstage spaces of the National’s Lyttelton Theatre. In this modern rendering of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy, a company of actors in a shuttered theater brings to life the tale of two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and hate.

Starring Josh O’Connor (The Crown, Masterpiece: The Durrells in Corfu) and Jessie Buckley (Fargo, Chernobyl) as Romeo and Juliet, the production is directed by Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director Simon Godwin and is adapted for television by Emily Burns. The ensemble cast features Fisayo Akinade as Mercutio, Shubham Saraf as Benvolio, Deborah Findlay as the Nurse, David Judge as Tybalt, Alex Mugnaioni as Paris, Ellis Howard as Sampson, Tamsin Greig as Lady Capulet, Lucian Msamati as the Friar, Adrian Lester as the Prince, Lloyd Hutchinson as Lord Capulet, Colin Tierney as Lord Montague and Ella Dacres as Peta.

Watch each episode at video.wkar.org during or after the premiere date.

MORE ABOUT GREAT PERFORMANCES:
Throughout its more than 40-year history on PBS, Great Performances has provided an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming. 

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