English National Ballet to bring Romeo & Juliet to Bristol Hippodrome


The world's greatest love story, Romeo & Juliet features inventive, passionate choreography set to Prokofiev's score, performed live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic.

Sumptuous costumes and sets transport you to Renaissance Verona, its piazza bustling with market traders, street entertainers and the restless factions of the Capulet and Montague families. Amidst the grandeur of the Capulet's ball, our star-crossed lovers meet, unleashing a fateful sequence of events, from the romantic night scene to their tragic final embrace.

Originally created by Nureyev in 1977 to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee, English National Ballet has since performed it across the world to critical acclaim.

Of the national tour, Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of English National Ballet said: "Touring to audiences outside of London is something I think is truly important, and I am very proud that this season we will present both full scale ballets and new works. I cannot wait to take Rudolf Nureyev's beautiful Romeo & Juliet, to audiences up and down the country."

About Romeo & Juliet

  • Premiered at the London Coliseum on 2 June 1977.
  • Since then it has been performed by English National Ballet 373 times.
  • Known for its intense choreography, the balcony pas de deux lasts around 7 minutes. It has 5 kisses, over 8 coupes-jetes and 24 arabesques for each dancer, and an impressive 22 lifts.
  • The bedroom pas de deux in Act III lasts around 6 minutes. In that time, Romeo has to lift Juliet off the floor 18 times - that's once every 20 seconds.
  • The fight scene between Tybalt and Romeo lasts just over 90 seconds. In that time, their weapons clash over 30 times.
  • The brawl in Act I features over 28 dancers.
  • During the Capulet ball, there are nearly 40 people on stage.
  • After he meets Juliet, Romeo performs a short solo, travelling around the stage and doing over 15 intricate steps and jumps in less than 20 seconds.
  • Famous Nureyev Juliet's include Lynn Seymour, Daria Klimentova, Agnes Oaks, Monique Louidere (Paris Opera Ballet), Carla Fracci (La Scala) and Sylvie Guillem (Paris pera Ballet).
Ballet Tours