Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words

Editorial

BBC Four

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

BBC 4

BBC Scotland

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two Northern Ireland

A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland

BBC Scotland HD

BBC Four HD

Francesca Hayward

Matthew Ball

Marcelino Sambe

James Hay

Christopher Saunders

Kristen McNally

Tomas Mock

Romany Pajdak

Bennet Gartside

Laura Morera

Beatriz Stix-Brunell

Tierney Heap

William Bracewell

Sergey Prokofiev

Kenneth MacMillan

Nicholas Georgiadis

Michael Nunn

William Trevitt

Kwesi Dickson

Kevin O'Hare

Judit Sos

Footwork Films Limited

Films

Performances & Events

Drama: Relationships & Romance

BBC Two - Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words

The classic story everyone knows, presented in a way never seen before.

The story everyone knows, in a language everyone understands, shown in a way never seen before by the award-winning Michael Nunn and William Trevitt.

As members of the feuding Capulet and Montague families, Romeo and Juliet should be sworn enemies, but they fall deeply in love and marry in secret. That very day, disastrous circumstances lead Romeo to fight and kill Juliet's cousin Tybalt, setting off a chain of events that culminate in tragedy. Juliet takes a potion to avoid the love match her parents have set up for her, and Romeo, believing she is dead, poisons himself. When she wakes from her deep sleep, Juliet finds the body of her love and is so distraught that she stabs herself, joining him in death.

Romeo and Juliet is a drama feature film shot on location in Hungary, starring the dancers of the Royal Ballet in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s classic ballet. The film is set to Sergei Prokofiev’s original score for Romeo and Juliet, and is unique in telling this classic story through dance. The score was adapted especially for the film. It was recorded at AIR Studios in Hampstead, London, with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, in early 2019. The 85 players were conducted by the renowned Royal Opera House music director Koen Kessels, and the leader was Vasko Vassilev. 

Highlighting the essence of MacMillan’s original choreography, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt’s Romeo and Juliet takes viewers into the action with a striking intimacy. Through detailed portrayals by the Royal Ballet dancers, the film is a gripping story about real characters through an audacious experience that is by turn epic and intimate. With the story presented in a groundbreaking new light, the film captures the extraordinary performances that have earned the Royal Ballet the reputation of producing the greatest actor-dancers in the world. Seizing the opportunity to perform scenes with unparalleled subtlety, the dancers’ artistry pays tribute to what is internationally recognised as the zenith of the dance storytelling. Reimagined for the camera by the International Emmy Award winners Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, the film delivers a new realism and reaches a global audience of theatre, dance and film fans alike. 

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words

Contributors

Genres

Formats

BBC Four

About BBC Four