Above : Romeo And Juliet (Cranko) Grace Carroll, Joseph Caley Pic Daniel Boud
One of the landmarks of The Australian Ballet’s history, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet was first performed by the Company in 1974. More than a classic, it is a love story that draws audiences of all generations into the exhilaration of first love and the devastation of heartbreak.
Following its last staging in 2022, the production returns newly refreshed, with updated sets and choreography developed inclose collaboration with Stuttgart Ballet to ensure Cranko’s cinematic storytelling continues to move audiences today.
This is one of The Australian Ballet’s landmark productions. John Cranko’s ROMEO AND JULIET was first staged by The Australian Ballet in 1974 to great success. The Australian Ballet revived the production in 2022. With its current staging, the Company has refreshed the production with the Stuttgart Ballet making sure that Cranko’s cinematic style production still resonates with audiences today.
This beautiful, heartfelt production brings Shakespeare’s tragic tale vividly to life, pairing, amongst other things, sweeping crowd scenes with some of ballet’s most powerful pas de deus, balancing the striking spectacle with the most intimate of scenes.
The ballet is evocatively set to Sergei Prokofiev’s lush score by the excellent Opera Australia Orchestra conducted by Jonathon Lo. John Cranko’s choreography was the heart of the ballet, with Jon Buswell bathing the stage with bright, warm lights.
Jurgen Rose’s finely detailed period sets and lush costumes transported us to Renaissance Verona. A very fine cast of ten, together ei the ensemble, move through this world with grace and style.
Joseph Caley and Grace Carroll were memorable and soaring as Romeo and Juliet, Jarryd Madden a volatile, tempestuous Tybalt, Marcus Morelli the good natured, high spirited Mercutio, and Cameron Holmes was Romeo’s friend Benvolio. Jeff Ramsay played Paris who didn’t stand a chance with Juliet. Adam Bull and Serena Graham played Juliet’s judgmental, unsympathetic parents, Lord and Lady Capulet, Gillian Revie’s devoted, dutiful nurse and Isobelle Dashwood the radiant Rosaline. Timothy Coleman played two roles, the regal Duke of Verona, and the dedicated Friar Lawrence who meant so well however fate had other plans.
If you haven’t been to the ballet before, this production is a good place to start. With it being such a well known story, one can just sit back and enjoy the rich and mesmeric experience that good ballet can offer.
The AustralianBallet’s production of John Cranko’s ROMEO AND JULIET with the Opera Australia Orchestra is playing the Joan Sutherland Theatre until the 13th May. The production will then go to the Regent Theatre featuring Orchestra Victoria between the 6th and the 16th June. The final stop on the tour is Brisbane featuring the Queensland Symphony Orchestra playing the Lyric Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre between the 15th to the 22nd August 2026.
http://www.australianballet.com.au
