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Episode 109: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Dr Hester Lees-Jeffries Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We'll discuss the play's origins, its themes, characters, structure and impact. For us the play is the thing.

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is arguably the most famous love story of all time. The tragic tale of their ecstatic young love has become iconic, not only in the theatre, but in the countless forms it has been retold, in musicals, dance, opera and film. As we record this episode a daring new production is playing in London's West End, directed by Robery Icke, and starring Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe as the "star-crossed lovers".

I'm delighted to be joined to explore the play by Dr Hester Lees-Jeffries from Cambridge University, author of the introduction to the New Cambridge Shakespeare edition of the text.