When Artistic Director David Hallberg restored John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet to The Australian Ballet’s repertoire in 2022, 19 years had passed since its last outing. We haven’t had to wait as long this time. The iconic 1962 production is back, lavishly designed by Cranko’s longtime collaborator Jürgen Rose and brimming with swordplay, ecstasy and murder. Next month, it plays at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre and travels to Brisbane’s QPAC in August.

Limelight Editor’s Choice

With its compelling storytelling that always hits the heart, Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet is a majestic vision of Shakespeare’s play. Capturing the fierce clashes of rival families against the luminous flare of young love, the choreography is driven by Sergei Prokofiev’s dramatic score. Jürgen Rose’s opulent design flaunts the pageantry of medieval Verona, contrasting the heavy splendour of the aristocratic elder generation with the billowing fabrics of the teenage lovers’ carefree romance.

Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet binds artists and audiences in a profound emotional experience. From the first flush of romance to its final heartbreaking finale, you’ll be captivated by the eternal symbol of love at its most pure, rare and precious that is Romeo and his Juliet.