Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies
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Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies. [BBC Archives]
Shakespeare Memorial
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Shakespeare's memorial in Stratford-upon-Avon.  [Jarrolds]
Holy Trinity Church, Stratford
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Stratford Parish Church, where Shakespeare and his children were baptised.  [Jarrolds]
Shakespeare's Birthplace
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Shakespeare was born in 1564 at this house in Stratford-upon-Avon.  [Jarrolds]
Shakespeare's Will
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William Shakespeare's Will [ Public Records Office]
Map of Italy - Verona & Mantua
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Map of Italy (1631), showing Verona and Mantua. Romeo is banished to Mantua, which was a walled town. [Bridgeman Art Library]
John Gielgud Picture
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John Gielgud. [BBC Archives]
Jonathan Miller
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Jonathan Miller. [BBC Archives]
Judi Dench Picture
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Judi Dench. [BBC Archives]
A View of London
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Hollar's long view of London. A seventeenth century engraving. [The British Museum]
Peggy Ashcroft
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Peggy Ashcroft. [BBC Archives]
John Shakespeare was a Glover
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Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, was a merchant and glovemaker. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Mrs Patrick Campbell
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Mrs Patrick Campbell as Juliet. [Hulton Deutsch]
The Globe Theatre
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The Globe, part-owned by Shakespeare, and resident theatre for the Chamberlain's men. [Hulton Deutsch]
Verona
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Verona in (1833). Although no-one knows if the legend of Romeo and Giulietta is based on fact, people still visit Verona to see the supposed site of Juliet's balcony. [Hulton Deutsch]
William Shakespeare
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The 'Chandos' portrait of Shakespeare. [Hulton Deutsch]
Regent Theatre 1924
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Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as Juliet in 1924.  Barbara Gott as the Nurse and Marie Housley as Lady Capulet. [Hulton Deutsch]
Henry Irving production (1882)
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Artist's impression of Juliet's bedroom, 1882. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Ashcroft & Olivier (1935)
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Peggy Ashcroft as Juliet and Lawrence Olivier as Romeo, 1935 According to John Gielgud, Olivier had the perfect looks for Romeo. [Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Gielgud & Ashcroft (1935)
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Peggy Ashcroft as Juliet and John Gielgud as Romeo, 1935. Gielgud and Olivier alternated the parts of Romeo and Mercutio. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Set Design 1967
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The sixties saw a trend for stark, unrepresentational sets. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
From the First Folio
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The 'Flower' portrait of Shakespeare. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
RSC Stratford (1976)
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This modern production (1976) uses historical-looking costumes. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
RSC Stratford (1986) males
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This RSC production in 1986 uses strikingly modern costumes and images. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
RSC Stratford (1986)
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Although this 1986 production by the RSC uses modern costumes, the women still wear long dresses. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
The Young Vic 1987
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Sarah Jane Fenton as Juliet, Rudolf Walker as the Friar. Photographed by Sheila Burnett, [The Young Vic]
Where Griping Grief
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The musical score and words of 'Where Griping Grief'.
Printing in 1619
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Woodcut showing the print process, 1619. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
The Plague in 1630
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Woodcut showing the Plague in 1630. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Interior of the Globe Theatre
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Interior view of the Elizabethan Theatre, drawn by George Varian. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Queen Elizabeth l watching the play
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Players performing before Elizabeth I. Between 1558 and 1574 at least 20 different companies performed at court. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Players performing before Elizabeth I. between 1558 and 1574 at least 20 different companies performed at court. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Play performed in an inn-yard
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Plays were often rowdy occasions, with many interruptions from the audience. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Pyramus & Thisbe
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The story of Pyramus and Thisbe is one of the sources for Romeo && Juliet. The Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe is also the play performed by the mechanicals in A Midsummer Night's Dream. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Mr Barry & Miss Nossiter 1759
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The Royalty Theatre. The eighteenth-century saw sophisticated, though stylised, scenery, complete with proscenium arch. An engraving by W.Elliot.
In Friar Lawrence's Cell
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Friar Lawrence's cell in Act 2 Scene 6. An engraving by J.J.Vandenbergh.
Orchard Theatre Company
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This modern production uses masks, music and spectacle. [Orchard Theatre Company]
Strasbourg 1971
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Set for Romeo && Juliet from the Theatre Municipal de Strasbourg 1971. [Birmingham Central Library]
London City Ballet 1988
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London City Ballet, 1988. Romeo && Juliet has inspired both opera and ballet. [Birmingham Central Library]
Bolshoi Ballet 1946
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Bolshoi Ballet, 1946. There are many musical adaptions of Romeo && Juliet. [Birmingham Central Library]
Friar Lawrence and Romeo
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Friar Lawrence and Romeo - an artist's impression. [Birmingham Central Library]
Four Servants
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Sampson, Gregory, Abraham and Balthasar from Act 1 Scene 1. [Birmingham Central Library]
Earl of Southampton
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Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. Shakespeare's patron. [Birmingham Central Library]
Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway
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Artist's impression of Shakespeare and Ann Hathaway, 1872. [Birmingham Central Library]
Sarah Bernhardt as Juliet (1898)
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Sarah Bernhardt as Juliet in 1898. [Birmingham Central Library]
Mr Wheatley as Romeo (1858)
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Mr Wheatley as Romeo in 1858. [Birmingham Central Library]
Punch cartoon - Italian shop
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Romeo && Juliet was so well known that cartoons based on the play appeared in satirical papers such as Punch. [Birmingham Central Library]
Mr Dod as Mercutio (1775)
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Mr Dod as Mercutio in 1775. [Birmingham Central Library]
Charles Kemble as Romeo (1823)
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Charles Kemble as Romeo. The Kembles were a famous acting family. [Birmingham Central Library]
Grammar School
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Shakespeare went to this school in Stratford-upon-Avon. [Birmingham Central Library]
Fleet Street, London
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Fleet Street in London and Old St Dunston's Church in the time of James I. [Birmingham Central Library]
The New Place (1720)
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The New Place 1720. Moving into this house represented the rise in Shakespeare's fortunes. [Birmingham Central Library]
Charles Kemble - Mercutio (1840)
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Charles Kemble as Mercutio in 1840. [Birmingham Central Library]
Garrick's frontispiece
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David Garrick's eighteenth-century production of Romeo && Juliet, with his own alterations to the text. [Birmingham Central Library]
The Prologue
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Stage showing The Prologue standing before a backdrop of Verona. [Birmingham Central Library]
Playbill from 1823
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Playbill from the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, 1823. [Birmingham Central Library]
Passion play performed in the street
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Strolling players used to travel the country performing religious plays and pageants. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
The Audience at the Globe
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The interior of The Globe, the most famous Shakespearean theatre. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Shakespeare's baptism record
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Shakespeare's baptismal record from Stratford Parish church. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Judith & Hamnet's baptism record
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Baptismal record from Stratford Parish church for Shakespeare's twins, Judith and Hamnet. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Shakespeare's Tomb
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Shakespeare's tombstone showing the inscription which he may have written himself. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
The Quartos
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Frontispiece of First Quarto (1597) and Second Quarto (1599). [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Contents page of the First Folio
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Contents page of First Folio. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
First page of Romeo & Juliet
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The first page of the First Folio, showing the original spellings. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Ellen Terry as Juliet
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Ellen Terry as Juliet. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Hodgson's New Characters (1823)
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Hodgson's New Characters (1823). Tybalt is in Elizabethan dress, the Nurse in pseudo-medieval costume, while Juliet is in eighteenth-century costume. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Lyceum, 1908 - Tybalt's death
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The Lyceum Theatre in 1908, showing the crowd scene after the death of Tybalt. Notice the realistic, three-dimensional set. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Esme Berringer as Romeo (1896)
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Esme Berringer as Romeo, (1896). [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Romeo and Mercutio (1851)
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William Farren as Romeo and Mr Hoskins as Mercutio in 1851. Both actors are wearing medieval style costumes. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Mrs Stirling as the Nurse (1882)
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Mrs Stirling as the Nurse in Henry Irving's 1882 production. While Romeo and Juliet looked theatrical, she was purely Victorian. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Mary Anderson as Juliet (1884)
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Mary Anderson as Juliet. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Barbara Aird as Lady Capulet
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Barbara Aird as Lady Capulet, Queen's Theatre, Manchester, 1905. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Mrs Kemble as Juliet (1784)
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Mrs Kemble as Juliet. She is wearing modern clothes but, as a concession to the character, she is in white with a theatrical veil over her head. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Romeo and the Apothecary
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An engraving from Garrick's Romeo && Juliet. Romeo is in an Elizabethan hat and sleeves with a theatrical cloak. The Apothecary looks appropriately poor. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Curtain Scenery -Northampton Rep
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Painted curtains form the scenery for this Northampton Repertory performance (c. 1838). [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Lyceum, 1908 - Orchard Scene
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Capulet's orchard and the balcony. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Richard Burbage
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Richard Burbage, one of the most famous of the Chamberlain's men. [Dulwich Picture Gallery]
Franco Zeffirelli
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Franco Zeffirelli. [BBC Archives]
Tomb
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The chapel and tomb of Juliet in Verona. [Birmingham Central Library]
Romeo
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Montague's son who falls in love with Juliet. Played by Patrick Ryecart.
Benvolio
Romeo's cousin and friend. Played by Christopher Strauli.
Tybalt
Juliet's cousin and enemy of the Montagues. Played by Alan Rickman.
Capulets
Capulet and Lady Capulet. Played by Michael Hodern and Jacqueline Hill.
Prince
Prince Escalus, Ruler of Verona. Played by Lawrence Naismith.
Montagues
Montague and Lady Montague. Played by John Paul and Zulema Dene.
servant
Servant to the Capulet household
Nurse
Juliet's Nurse employed in the Capulet household. Played by Celia Johnson.
Lady Capulet
Juliet's mother. Played by Jacqueline Hill.
Capulet
Head of the Capulet family and Juliet's father; Montague's enemy. Played by Michael Hodern.
Juliet
Capulet's young daughter who falls in love with Romeo. Played by Rebecca Saire.
Peter
The Nurse's servant. Played by Paul Henry.
Friar Lawrence
The monk who helps Romeo and Juliet. Played by Joseph O'Connor.
Nurse and Peter
Juliet's Nurse and servant to the Nurse. Played by Celia Johnson and Paul Henry.
Paris
A young count who wishes to marry Juliet. Played by Christopher Northey.
Balthasar
Romeo's servant. Played by Roger Davidson.
Characters
Romeo: "If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine" (Act 1 Scene 5). An engraving by G.S. and F.G.Facius.
CapuletsHouse
An engraving of a sixteenth century house by Nash 1839. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
FriarsCell
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An engraving of Friar Lawrence and Romeo by Frank Bindley. [Birmingham Central Library]
JulietsChamber
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Juliet's bedroom, Lyceum, 1882. [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
OutCapuletsGrounds
Sepulcre of the Scaligeri  Engraved by C.F.Carlsruhe from a painting by Pexold date unknown [Hulton Deutsch]
StreetSceneMantua
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Romeo is banished to Mantua a walled city south of Verona.  Drawn by G.F.Sargent and engraved by J. Hinchliffe. [Birmingham Central Library]
CapuletsGrounds
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Verona. Dal Giardino Giusti in Verona. [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Globe
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An engraving of the Globe Theatre, London as it appeared in the reign of King James I. The Globe Theatre was owned by Shakespeare and most of his plays were first performed here. [Hulton Deutsch]
performance
Act 4 Scene 5, 18th Century Engraving [The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust]
Montague
Head of the Montague family and Romeo's father; Capulet enemy. Played by John Paul.
An Old Man
An old man of the Capulet family.  Played by Esmond Knight.
Mercutio
Romeo's friend and a relation of the Prince. Played by Anthony Andrews.
Friar John
Friar Lawrence's companion. Played by John Savident.
Abraham
A Montague servant. Played by Bunny Reed.
Samson& Gregory
Capulet servants
Lady Montague
Romeo's Mother. Played by Zulema Dene.
Apothecary
A poor Mantuan who sells poison illegally. Played by Vernon Dobtcheff.
The Chorus
The Chorus introduces the play.  Played by John Gielgud.
Fate
from The Plague in 1630 [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Love
Lovers,Jan Swelmck, Rotterdam. 1627 [The Mansell Collection]
Family
English Puritans 1563 [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Death
The Dance of Death, woodcut, Schedel, Liber Chronicarum, Nuremberg, 1493  [Mary Evans Picture Library]
Time
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Earth propelled by Father Time. [Mary Evans Picture Library]