--- title: Teach Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare | Digital Theatre+ description: Get engaging videos, lesson plans and resources to teach Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. 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[ Discover more with a free trial ](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) Bally Gill (Romeo) and Karen Fishwick (Juliet) | Romeo and Juliet (RSC, 2018) | © Topher McGrillis ## Explore *Romeo and Juliet* on Digital Theatre+ - **5**Productions - **20**Video resources - **25**Written resources Light up your classroom with engaging resources made *by teachers, for teachers*. [Get in touch for a complete overview.](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) Available Productions | ![Adetomiwa Edun (Romeo) and Ellie Kendrick (Juliet) _ Romeo and Juliet © Shakespeares Globe](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Adetomiwa%20Edun%20(Romeo)%20and%20Ellie%20Kendrick%20(Juliet)%20_%20Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20%C2%A9%20Shakespeares%20Globe.png?width=220&height=220&name=Adetomiwa%20Edun%20(Romeo)%20and%20Ellie%20Kendrick%20(Juliet)%20_%20Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20%C2%A9%20Shakespeares%20Globe.png)   | **Shakespeare's Globe, 2009** Adetomiwa Edun and Ellie Kendrick are the star-crossed lovers in Dominic Dromgoole's fresh and vibrant take on Shakespeare's famous tragedy. "Dromgoole's brisk, unfussy production kept me hooked throughout... But it is for the beautiful sincerity of the young lovers - mischievous, tender, and grieving - that this production will be best remembered." – [***London Theatre***](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/romeo-juliet-2009)   | | --- | --- | | ![Orlando Bloom (Romeo) and Condola Rashad (Juliet) _ Romeo and Juliet (BroadwayHD) _ © Hartman Group](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Orlando%20Bloom%20(Romeo)%20and%20Condola%20Rashad%20(Juliet)%20_%20Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20(BroadwayHD)%20_%20%C2%A9%20Hartman%20Group.png?width=220&height=220&name=Orlando%20Bloom%20(Romeo)%20and%20Condola%20Rashad%20(Juliet)%20_%20Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20(BroadwayHD)%20_%20%C2%A9%20Hartman%20Group.png)   | **BroadwayHD, 2014** Starring Orlando Bloom and two-time Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad as the star-crossed lovers, this production was captured live at the Richard Rogers Theatre in New York. David Leveauz's modern-dress production stirs up tension in the first Broadway staging of *Romeo and Juliet* in 36 years. "It's the joyous sense of discovery that makes their love scenes so lovely." – [***Variety***](https://variety.com/2013/legit/news/broadway-review-romeo-and-juliet-1200643078/)   | | --- | --- | | ![Bally Gill (Romeo) and Karen Fishwick (Juliet) _ Romeo and Juliet (RSC, 2018) _ © Topher McGrillis](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bally%20Gill%20(Romeo)%20and%20Karen%20Fishwick%20(Juliet)%20_%20Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20(RSC%2c%202018)%20_%20%C2%A9%20Topher%20McGrillis.png?width=220&height=220&name=Bally%20Gill%20(Romeo)%20and%20Karen%20Fishwick%20(Juliet)%20_%20Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20(RSC%2c%202018)%20_%20%C2%A9%20Topher%20McGrillis.png)   | **RSC, 2018** Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Erica Whyman's lively reimagining focuses on the pains of adolescence and stars Charlotte Josephine as the bold Mercutio in this modern interpretation of the play. "Erica Whyman's new RSC production casts women in five traditionally male roles, including Mercutio, and is multicultural and youth-oriented." – [***The Guardian*** ](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/may/02/romeo-and-juliet-review-rsc-gender-fluid-tragedy-of-youth)   | | --- | --- | | ![Sara Farb (Juliet) and Antoine Yared (Romeo) _ Romeo and Juliet (Stratford Festival) _ © Cylla von Tiedemann](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sara%20Farb%20(Juliet)%20and%20Antoine%20Yared%20(Romeo)%20_%20Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20(Stratford%20Festival)%20_%20%C2%A9%20Cylla%20von%20Tiedemann.png?width=220&height=220&name=Sara%20Farb%20(Juliet)%20and%20Antoine%20Yared%20(Romeo)%20_%20Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20(Stratford%20Festival)%20_%20%C2%A9%20Cylla%20von%20Tiedemann.png)   | **Stratford Festival, 2018** Filmed live at the Stratford Festival in 2018, Sara Farb and Antonie Yard star as the teenagers who defy the long-simmering hatred between their families in the name of love. "One of the best productions of *Romeo and Juliet* I've seen." – ***[Stratford Festival Reviews](https://stratfordfestivalreviews.com/blog/reviews/one-of-the-best-productions-of-romeo-and-juliet-ive-seen/)***   | | --- | --- | | ![Romeo and Juliet _ © L.A. Theatre Works](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20_%20%C2%A9%20L.A.%20Theatre%20Works.png?width=220&height=220&name=Romeo%20and%20Juliet%20_%20%C2%A9%20L.A.%20Theatre%20Works.png)   | **L.A. Theatre Works, 2012** This audio production was recorded at The Invisible Studios, and stars Calista Flockhart as Juliet, and Matthew Wolf as Romeo. "A top-notch cast [...] and a thoroughly enjoyable listen." – [***Audible***](https://latw.org/title/romeo-and-juliet)   | | --- | --- | Video Resources **Interviews & Documentaries** - On Themes in Romeo and Juliet: Carol Chillington Rutter - Playing Romeo: Daniel Boyd - Playing Juliet: Ellie Kendrick - An Interview with Meera Syal **E-learning Videos** - Compare and Contrast: Act 3 Scene 1 - Unlocking Structure in *Romeo and Juliet* - Unlocking Theme: Fate in *Romeo and Juliet* - At Home with Shakespeare: Act 3 Scene 2   Written Resources **Essays** - *R**omeo and Juliet*: Historical Context Workbook - A Concise Introduction to Shakespeare's Theatre **Study Guides** - *Romeo and Juliet* - Unlocked: *Romeo and Juliet* Teaching Resources **Teaching Guides** - Discover, Explore, Assess - Shakespeare in your space - Unlocking Elizabethan Theatre ***Romeo and Juliet* Lesson Plans** - Compare and Contrast: *Romeo and Juliet* - Analyzing Romeo in Act 1 Scene 5 - Analyzing the Impact of Word Choice on Juliet's Soliloquy - Creating a Design Concept for *Romeo and Juliet* [ Access these resources today! ](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) ![Teach-Romeo-Juliet-1 copy](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hubfs/Teach-Romeo-Juliet-1%20copy.png "Teach-Romeo-Juliet-1 copy") ## What is *Romeo and Juliet* about? Set in Verona in the 14th century, *Romeo and Juliet* tells the story of the Capulets and the Montagues, warring families whose children, Romeo and Juliet, fall in love - and as we are warned in the prologue, this leads them both to death. By the end, Romeo and Juliet plan to elope with the help of Friar Lawrence. Juliet plans to take a sleeping potion that will give her the appearance of death, and explains this in a letter to Romeo... which never arrives. When Romeo hears that Juliet has died, he poisons himself over Juliet's body. She wakes, sees that he is dead, and kills herself with a dagger. The two families agree to bury their feud, and build a monument to the two lovers. [ Watch this production on DT+! ](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) ## Resources for teaching *Romeo and Juliet*... [![Teach-Romeo-Juliet-4](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hubfs/Teach-Romeo-Juliet-4.png "Teach-Romeo-Juliet-4")](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) Video Resources [![Teach-Romeo-Juliet-3](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hubfs/Teach-Romeo-Juliet-3.png "Teach-Romeo-Juliet-3")](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) Written Resources [![Teach-Romeo-Juliet-2](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hubfs/Teach-Romeo-Juliet-2.png "Teach-Romeo-Juliet-2")](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) Teaching Resources [ Access these resources today! ](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) ## Explore Key Themes & Characters Turn passive learning into active engagement with fun and dynamic resources on core literary texts like Romeo and Juliet, including in-depth analysis of key themes, characters, and literary techniques. [Explore the full DT+ library with a free trial.](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) ### Key Themes Love Shakespeare doesn't wait to introduce this play as a tragic love story. In the opening prologue, we learn that the two "star-cross'd lovers" will "take their life". Shakespeare presents love as an incredibly powerful, passionate, and overwhelming feeling. It makes the characters behave unpredictably and encourages them to break rules they are expected to follow. At times, love is described using biblical imagery. When Romeo and Juliet first meet, Romeo compares Juliet to a place of worship and her hand to a "holy shrine". [Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: *Romeo and Juliet*.](https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/guides/unlocked-study-guide-romeo-and-juliet) Obedience Obedience was very important in Elizabethan England. The audience would have been shocked by Juliet's disobedience of her father, and would expect the tale to end in disaster. However, remembering that *Romeo and Juliet* is a tragedy, we're also encouraged to feel bad for the lovers. Even though we know how the play ends, we want them to succeed all the same. It's possible that Shakespeare was using this play to challenge the expectations of the time. After all, by obeying her father, Juliet would have lost the opportunity to fall deeply and passionately in love. [Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: *Romeo and Juliet*.](https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/guides/unlocked-study-guide-romeo-and-juliet) Light and Dark Light and dark aren't always referred to as a theme: sometimes they're symbols or motifs, because they often represent specific ideas. The meaning of light begins to change as the play progresses. After Romeo is banished from Verona, he returns to spend one last night with Juliet. He has to leave the city walls before sunrise. In this way, light becomes his enemy. The lighter it becomes, the closer he gets to leaving Juliet. At this moment, he says, "More light and light, more dark and dark our woes!" (Romeo, Act 3 Scene 5). [Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: *Romeo and Juliet*.](https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/guides/unlocked-study-guide-romeo-and-juliet) ### Key Characters Romeo Montague *"With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls, / For stony limits cannot hold love out."* (Romeo, Act 2 Scene 2) The play's protagonist and titular character, Romeo is the only child of Lord and Lady Montague. He is a passionate, impulsive, and loyal man in his mid-teens, and does not seem interested in the violence around him - he is far more interested in matters of the heart. When the play begins, Romeo is convinced that he is in love with a girl called Rosaline, who has decided to enter a convent. Upon meeting Juliet though, his feelings quickly change... [Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: *Romeo and Juliet*.](https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/guides/unlocked-study-guide-romeo-and-juliet) Juliet Capulet *"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?"* (Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2) The play's protagonist and titular character, Juliet is the only child of Lord and Lady Capulet. She is young, intelligent, and brave. Juliet is portrayed as innocent to the world - and marriage. She is very obedient, and willing to follow her parents' instruction at all times (which was expected for the daughter of nobility). When she meets Romeo, she falls quickly in love with him, and from this point, she becomes increasingly determined and independent. She is even the one to mention marriage to Romeo. [Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: *Romeo and Juliet*.](https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/guides/unlocked-study-guide-romeo-and-juliet)   Mercutio *"If love be rough with you, be rough with love: / Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down."* (Mercutio, Act 1 Scene 4) Romeo's fun-loving best friend, Mercutio is quick-witted and intelligent. He is incredibly loyal to Romeo, and steps in when Tybalt comes to dual him. Mercutio can be seen as a foil character for Romeo - he has a direct approach to love, and sees it mostly as physical attraction. Mercutio is also, unlike Romeo, very keen to fight with the Capulets, and when Romeo tries to step in on a fight with Tybalt, he makes things worse, causing Mercutio's injury and death. This devastates Romeo, and is the reason he kills Tybalt. [Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: *Romeo and Juliet*.](https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/guides/unlocked-study-guide-romeo-and-juliet) Tybalt *"What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word / As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee."* (Tybalt, Act 1 Scene 1) Juliet's fiery cousin, Tybalt brings conflict every time he is on stage. He truly hates the Montagues, and will seize upon any opportunity to fight with them. Tybalt hates the idea of peace as much as he hates Hell and the Montague family. he does not want the families to make amends, and is very keen to continue their hatred for one another. He is one of the few truly static characters of the play: most characters will develop and change as they are influenced by the events of the play, but this isn't the case for Tybalt. [Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: *Romeo and Juliet*.](https://edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/guides/unlocked-study-guide-romeo-and-juliet) This overview is taken from our Unlocked Study Guide, which covers key context, characters, themes, and literary devices of the text.   [ Explore the full guide with a free trial! ](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) ## Why did Shakespeare write *Romeo and Juliet*? Shakespeare was inspired by a 1562 poem by Arthur Brooke, titled *The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet*, which contains most of the main elements of the play. Shakespeare was also inspired by Ovid's *Pyramus and Thisbe*, which tells the story of two lovers in the city of Babylon who occupy connected houses, and whose parents are sworn enemies. Extract: Unlocked Study Guide: *Romeo and Juliet* on DT+. [![William_Shakespeare____Archive_Images-Alamy](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/hubfs/William_Shakespeare____Archive_Images-Alamy.jpg "William_Shakespeare____Archive_Images-Alamy")](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/shakespeare-schools?hsLang=en) [ Explore the DT+ Shakespeare Collection! ](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/shakespeare-schools?hsLang=en) ## Free Resources for *Romeo and Juliet* ### Romeo and Juliet Student Quiz Assess student knowledge of Romeo and Juliet with this engaging multiple-choice quiz, covering the main plot points and takeaways from Shakespeare's tragedy. [![Get your free quiz](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4771810/f87c50f4-d0b4-404e-9134-4e61ae5992ce.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4771810/f87c50f4-d0b4-404e-9134-4e61ae5992ce) ### Spotlight On: Shakespeare Access five engaging e-learning videos focused on the life and works of William Shakespeare. Each episode includes key terminology, fun facts, and examples of content in action. [![Access here](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4771810/53127896-4e45-4442-87b4-74e0828ec7d2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4771810/53127896-4e45-4442-87b4-74e0828ec7d2) Looking for more? Discover the complete collection with a free trial to DT+... [ Get started today! ](https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/free-trial?hsLang=en) ### Making Shakespeare Cool | On-Demand Webinar Get access to panel discussions, live teaching demonstrations, and ready-to-use lesson plans all designed to help you make Shakespeare's works and language more accessible (and fun!). [![Watch now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4771810/c7f16726-ab77-4983-b203-c473f1b78b21.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4771810/c7f16726-ab77-4983-b203-c473f1b78b21) ### Customized Resources Can't see what you're looking for? Get in touch today to explore the full DT+ Collection for teaching Romeo and Juliet including resources for teaching other plays by William Shakespeare. [![What are you teaching?](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4771810/8483ad10-bb07-40bd-ab5a-99475609ed01.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4771810/8483ad10-bb07-40bd-ab5a-99475609ed01) ## More like *Romeo and Juliet*... 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