RSC’s acclaimed production of ROMEO & JULIET returns to BBC2 as part of BBC lockdown learning

Photo credit: Topher McGrillis

The RSC’s 2018 production of Romeo and Juliet will be aired on BBC Two on Tuesday 9 February at 2pm, as part of the BBC’s Lockdown Learning’s Shakespeare Week, before being made available on BBC iPlayer for 60 days.

Directed by RSC Deputy Artistic Director Erica Whyman, the production stars Bally Gill in his award-winning performance as Romeo and Karen Fishwick as Juliet. It is designed by Tom Piper, with lighting by Charles Balfour, music by Sophie Cotton and movement by Ayse Tashkiran.   

The professional cast also includes: Afolabi Alli (Paris), Donna Banya (Gregory), Stevie Basaula (Sampson), Ishia Bennison (Nurse), Katy Brittain (Friar John/Apothecary), Raif Clarke (Peter), Beth Cordingly (Escalus), Paul Dodds (Montague), Josh Finan (Benvolio), Andrew French (Friar Laurence), Mariam Haque (Lady Capulet), Michael Hodgson (Capulet), Charlotte Josephine (Mercutio), John Macaulay (Cousin Capulet), Tom Padley (Balthasar), Sakuntala Ramanee (Lady Montague), Raphael Sowole (Tybalt) and Nima Taleghani (Abraham).  

Whyman said: “I’m delighted that our production of Romeo and Juliet is getting another showing on BBC Two as part of the BBC’s Lockdown Learning Shakespeare Week.  Here at the RSC we know that seeing Shakespeare brought to life on stage is crucial for anyone studying his plays. 

“Sadly, our theatres are currently closed, but I hope that this broadcast (which will also be on BBC iPlayer for 60 days) will inspire students and offer them a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s revolutionary love story. We were so struck by Shakespeare’s timeless understanding of all the ways adults can let their young people down, and that seems even more urgent now. The broadcast adds to the vast range of resources the RSC is offering to students currently learning at home, and to teachers looking to create lesson plans to deliver online.” 

Two episodes of Shakespeare Unlocked will also be shown, whereby actors from previous RSC productions explore language and characters in key scenes from Macbeth (8 February at 2pm, BBC Two) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (11 February at 2.15pm, BBC Two).

In addition to this, there will also be Shakespeare focussed episodes of Bitesize Daily, featuring readings from RSC alumni including Niamh Cusack, Natalie Simpson and Jamie Wilkes.