This summer one of the greatest love stories of all time will explode onto the streets of
Guildford. For three weeks, celebrating their 18th birthday, Guildford Shakespeare Company is
closing the High Street every evening to bring to life the passion and excitement of
Shakespeare’s epic star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet. Throughout one of the UK’s most
beautiful high streets, audiences will be immersed in Shakespeare’s gripping tale of love and
sacrifice.
Featuring the iconic Guildhall balcony, historic Abbot’s Hospital, stylish Tunsgate Quarter and
more, audiences will follow the action through Guildford as the story unfolds, ending in the
stunning Castle Gardens. GSC’s professional cast will also be joined by a Community Ensemble
of adults and young people. Putting the show on the High Street and using iconic local
landmarks will bring an immediacy to this 400-year-old story. Site-responsive shows enable
audiences to interact with their shared space in a completely new, accessible and exciting way.
Director of Romeo & Juliet and GSC Co-Founder Matt Pinches comments, Bringing
Shakespeare’s great love story to the actual streets of Guildford is a thrilling prospect. It’s a story
bursting with passion, with hope, and with heart. Embracing our site-responsive approach
imbues Shakespeare’s story with immediacy and energy, and I hope that audiences will feel
swept up in the same whirlwind of excitement as these two young people find themselves. I’m so
proud to be directing this show for our 18th birthday. To be closing the High Street for 3 weeks;
using multiple iconic venues; two incredible community ensembles; and a brilliantly talented
professional cast and creative team; is, I hope, the perfect way to celebrate the unifying power
that theatre, both making and going, wields.
In addition to the professional cast, GSC has created two ensembles to help bring to life the
world of Verona. The Youth Ensemble will play the street gangs of the Capulets and Montagues.
Coming from local schools and GSC’s drama clubs, they will populate the opening scene of the
play and the closing scene of the first half. The young people in this ensemble come from four
local schools and colleges, two of which have some of the least advantaged children in their
community. They are joined by GSC’s Saturday Drama Club and Drama Club for Young Carers.
The Adult Ensemble will play the guests at the Capulet masked ball and have come from many
different routes to the show. Some are amateur actors, some trained many years ago and have
switched careers, some just love Shakespeare, and some just want to be part of something
exciting.
Alongside the main production GSC are also creating a knife crime awareness programme. The
company are visiting the schools who are part of the Youth Ensemble with special awareness
workshops, whilst the GSC Saturdays drama group are creating a Forum Theatre event for public
performance and discussion on 3rd July, with guest speakers in attendance. More info to follow.
Tickets are available
Standard £28.50
Students £20 (inc. Equity)
Universal Credit/Access £20 (recipients of Universal
Credit (and legacy benefits), Pension Credit and
recipients of DLA/PIP/AA), Children £17.50 (under 16)
Pay What You Can Mondays (£6 – £35 online)
www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/romeoand-juliet-2024/
Relaxed Performance 22 June, 2.30 pm
Audio Description 13 July, 2.30 pm*
BSL Interpreted 13 July, 2.30 pm*
*This performance is STATIC, they do not promenade
across the town centre
Pay What You Can night every Monday, 7.30 pm