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National Theatre announces ‘Romeo & Juliet’ as its first original film for television

Shakespeare Production Film
The National Theatre (NT) has announced it is creating a new 90-minute filmed version of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ for television, reconceiving the play that was originally going to run for theatre audiences in the NT’s Olivier theatre from Summer 2020.
Jessie Buckley as Juliet and Josh O'Connor as Romeo
Jessie Buckley as Juliet and Josh O'Connor as Romeo - Sebastian Nevols

Starring Josh O’Connor (The Crown, Emma., God’s Own Country) and Jessie Buckley (Chernobyl, Judy), the play will be filmed in the NT’s Lyttelton theatre, temporarily transformed into a studio. 

Romeo & Juliet is adapted for screen by Emily Burns and directed by NT Associate Simon Godwin (Antony and Cleopatra, Twelfth Night). The cast includes Fisayo Akinade, Deborah Findlay, Tamsin Greig, Lucian Msamati and Shubham Saraf. 

Although the NT has been broadcasting stage productions to cinemas for over a decade through its National Theatre Live programme, this will be the first time that an original production for screen has been created in its South Bank home. 

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