Romeo and Juliet

For our second season we decided on challenging our audiences with a tragedy, which just so happened to be one of the greatest love stories ever told, Romeo & Juliet.

We took on a bigger production team. Our costumes were made for us, bespoke, and our director cane straight from the National Theatre.

Our audiences almost doubled up to 4,000 over a three week run.

As well as continuing our support for Henshaws College we involved the Knaresborough School of Speech and Drama by casting it's students as our supporting roles.

Find out more in Education

Our Slant

The greatest love story ever told. But how well do you really know it? This summer Sprite will transform your views on Romeo & Juliet by performing an all new production using original music, fight choreography, costuming and with the wholly unique set design available from our site at Ripley Castle.

As with all Sprite shows at Ripley Castle we invite you along at least an hour before the show to enjoy your picnics in the walled gardens whilst our pre-show performers, never the same on any two nights, will be on hand to entertain you.

The show itself will be performed in the “Promenade” style theatre, which dates back to the 15th century, and is usually used as a technique to bring the actor – audience relationship closer than in any other form of theatre. This enables us to make you, the audience, feel part of the action as we take you to five different “venues” in the Castle grounds.

This is a truly unique way to enjoy Shakespeare’s most performed tragedy, brought to you by a company not only set on producing a spectacular site specific show, but who also care for the language, verse and story telling in a way that so many other open air Shakespeare productions gloss over.

Performance Schedule

Performances run from 13th June until 2nd July

The Cast and Characters

Escalus - Prince of Verona - Philip Benjamin
Mercutio - Kinsman of the Prince and Friend of Romeo - Derek Hagen
Paris - a young count, Kinsman of the Prince and Mercutio, and suitor to Juliet - Rhys Matthews
Montague - head of a Veronese family at feud with the Capulets - Jamie Bower
Lady Montague - Nicky Goldie
Romeo - son of Montague - Ashley Rolfe
Benvolio - nephew of Montague and friend of Romeo and Mercutio - Rhys Matthews
Abram - servant of Montague - Will Minkin/Joel Rimmer
Balthasar - servant of Montague - Derek Hagen
Capulet - head of a Veronese family at feud with the Montagues - Martin Belville
Lady Capulet - Joanna Croll
Juliet - daughter of Capulet - Sarah Bedi
Tybalt - nephew of Capulet - George Williams
Nurse - of Juliet - Nicky Goldie
Peter - servant of Capulet attending on the Nurse - George Williams
Sampson - of the Capulet Household - Timothy Miller/Alistair Stickland
Gregory - of the Capulet household - Aaron Stone/Ben Goakes
Friar Laurence - a Franciscan - Jamie Bower
Friar John - a Franciscan - Martin Belville Production Team

Producers – Liam Evans-Ford, Hester Evans and Roger Evans
Musical Director – Geoff Hense
Costume Designer – Hayley Nebauer
Lighting Designer – Matthew Herring
Fight Director – Liam Evans-Ford
Fight Choreography – Tristan Beint and Liam Evans-Ford
Stage Manager – Alex Evans

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Photos and Reviews