Shakespeare As You've Never Seen It Before At Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

After great success at The Watermill Theatre earlier this year, Paul Hart's powerful, explosive production of Shakespeare's immortal tale of an all-consuming love, ROMEO AND JULIET with music by Mumford and Sons and Hozier will tour nationally and internationally in rep alongside a brand new production of TWELFTH NIGHT featuring the music of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Wolverhampton audiences will be able to enjoy both productions at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Wednesday 12 - Friday 14 July 2017.

ROMEO AND JULIET

At 2:30pm and 7:30pm Wednesday 12 July. Directed by The Watermill's new Artistic Director Paul Hart, the production of ROMEO AND JULIET combines a thrilling contemporary feel with an outstanding ensemble of actor-musicians. Featuring music by Mumford and Sons, The Vaccines, The Civil Wars, Hozier and new original music by Johnny Flynn, the aim of the production is to challenge the way live music is used alongside text and to investigate new responses to Shakespeare's work.

TWELFTH NIGHT

At 7:30pm on Thursday 13 & Friday 14 July. Often regarded as Shakespeare's perfect play, TWELFTH NIGHT'S dreamlike fantasy world will be evocatively reimagined in the 1920s where prohibition is rife and Europe is still reeling in the wake of war. It will feature music by Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. After forming a company last year who brought energy and playfulness to ROMEO AND JULIET, the Watermill's production of TWELFTH NIGHT will be equally ambitious and bring together an extraordinary group of actors to reimagine this great play.

The Watermill has an extraordinary reputation for Shakespeare productions and since 1965, when the theatre staged its first performance, The Watermill has become internationally renowned for its unique, non-star led productions of Shakespeare. When Jill and James Sargant took over The Watermill in 1981, they staged innovative productions of shows, such as The Merchant of Venice, which toured internationally, and Macbeth which transferred to Buenos Aires. In the mid-90s Edward Hall and Jill Fraser founded Propeller, an ensemble Shakespeare company who mixed a rigorous approach to the text with modern physical aesthetic. Propeller performed their first production, Henry V in the grounds of The Watermill. The company toured across the world to over 22 countries and to date have played to half-a-million people worldwide. Paul Hart was an associate of Propeller for six years and he is committed to the next stage of Shakespeare at The Watermill. His ambition is to create innovative work with an ensemble spirit, which breaks new boundaries. He aims to use music in these great plays to create something which is both thrilling and accessible.

Tickets for ROMEO AND JULIET and TWELFTH NIGHT are on sale now by visiting the Grand Theatre Box Office, by calling 01902 42 92 12 or online at grandtheatre.co.uk.