Overview
Synopsis
It’s Romeo and Juliet … but not as we know it! & Juliet asks the important question: what if Juliet chose not to kill herself, deciding instead to live her life in her own way? We follow William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne, as they argue and rewrite one of his most famous tragedies. In this tale, Juliet leaves her past behind to travel to Paris with her nurse Angelique and new friends May and April (aka Anne, who has written herself into the story). There they discover Lance (Angelique’s former lover) and his son Francois, who is looking to shake off his father’s expectations and forge his own life. With Juliet’s own parents trying to send her to a convent, are Juliet and Francois the perfect match for each other? While Shakespeare and Anne argue over the course of Juliet’s destiny, Francois discovers his feelings for May and Romeo returns to declare his love for Juliet. But who will Juliet finally choose? Or, does she need to choose at all?!
Full of songs by the hugely successful Swedish pop songwriter Max Martin, & Juliet is a fun jukebox musical that celebrates love, friendship, and taking charge of one’s own destiny.
Show Information
Context
& Juliet is based on the music by Swedish songwriter Max Martin and includes songs he wrote for pop singers such as Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys, and Kelly Clarkson. The musical also features a new, original song, co-written with Jessie J. The show premiered in Manchester in 2019, before transferring to London’s West End. It was forced to close in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but reopened in September 2021. & Juliet was nominated for 9 Olivier
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Act One
The stage is set for the first performance of William Shakespeare’s new play, Romeo and Juliet. He welcomes the audience to the theatre and to his show (“Larger than Life”). We are then introduced to his wife, Anne Hathaway_, who has come to London on a rare visit from their home in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare begins to explain the plot of his play to her, but she immediately begins to pull apart his proposed ending. What if, Anne wonders, Juliet did not kill herself after
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Character Portrayals
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Songs
Act One
- “Larger Than Life” - William Shakespeare & Company
- “I Want It That Way” - Shakespeare, Anne Hathaway & Company
- “…Baby One More Time” - Juliet
- “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” - Anne, Shakespeare, Juliet & Company
- “Domino” - Juliet, Angelique, May, & Anne
- “Show Me Love” - Juliet, Angelique, Anne, May, Lance & Company
- “Blow” - Juliet, Angelique, Anne, May, Lance & Company
- “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” - May & Juliet
- “Overprotected” - Francois & Juliet
- “Confident” - Juliet, Francois, Angelique & Company
- “Teenage Dream” / “Break Free” - Angelique & Lance
- “Oops!...I Did It Again” - Juliet & Angelique
- “I Kissed a Girl” - May, Francois & Company
- “It’s My Life” - Romeo, Shakespeare, Juliet, Anne & Company
Act Two
- “Love Me Like You Do” - Romeo
- “Since U Been Gone” - Juliet & Company
- “Whataya Want From Me” - May & Francois
- “One More Try” - Juliet, Romeo & Company
- “Problem” / “Can’t Feel My Face” - Juliet, Romeo & Company
- “That’s the Way It Is” - Anne & Juliet
- “Everybody” - Shakespeare, Romeo, May, Francois, Lance & Company
- “As Long As You Love Me” - Francois, Shakespeare, Romeo & May
- “It’s Gonna Be Me” - Francois & May
- “Shape Of My Heart” - Lance, Francois & May
- “Stronger” - Juliet
- “F@#kin’ Perfect” - Angelique & Company
- “Roar” - Juliet & Company
- “I Want It That Way - Reprise” - Shakespeare, Anne, Juliet, Romeo & Company
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” - Shakespeare, Anne & Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Key Terms
An adaptation is a reworking of a story from one medium or cultural context into another, such as turning a novel into a play or updating a classic play’s setting. Adaptations often reinterpret themes, characters, and style for new audiences. They can range from faithful recreations to bold reimaginings.
A person, thing, or idea that exists out of its time in history, especially one that happened or existed later than the period being shown or discussed.
A ballad is a song style that tells a story through simple, lyrical verses and a steady rhythm. In theatre, ballads are often slow and emotional, allowing characters to reveal deep feelings or reflect on personal journeys. They can be used to highlight romance, longing, or moments of dramatic intensity.
A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.
A vocal technique blending chest and head voice to create a strong yet flexible sound for higher pitches.
The art of designing and arranging movement sequences for theatrical dance and physical storytelling.
Relating to gender equality, often a theme or character perspective in plays that challenge patriarchal norms.
An “I Want Song” is a number, usually placed early in a musical, where a main character expresses their deepest desire or ambition. This song sets the character’s journey in motion and gives the audience a clear emotional stake in the story. It has become one of the most recognizable and enduring conventions of musical theatre structure.
A jukebox musical is a type of musical where the score is made up of pre-existing, well-known popular songs instead of original music.
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher