Shakespeare into Writing: Romeo and Juliet
Resource pack
Developed by Emily Clifford and Jackie Tait
Contents
• Production photographs from NT productions of Romeo and Juliet (in 6 groups)
• Plot summary (in 6 sections)
• Character notes sheet
• Production photographs of Romeo in Act 2, Scene 2
• Production photographs of Juliet in Act 2, Scene 2
• Romeo’s soliloquy from the balcony scene (Act 2, Scene 2)
• Juliet’s soliloquy from the balcony scene (Act 2, Scene 2)
• Individual character map template
• Soliloquy guide notes
Production photographs from NT productions of Romeo and Juliet (Lesson 1)
The photographs included in this resource pack are taken from the following NT
productions of Romeo and Juliet:
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (NT, 2000)
Director – Tim Supple
Designer – Robert Innes Hopkins
Romeo – Chiwetel Ejiofor
Juliet – Charlotte Randle
Tybalt – Andy Williams
Mercutio – Patrick O’Kane
Black and white photos © Catherine Ashmore
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, in a version by Ben Power (NT, 2013)
Director – Bijan Sheibani
Designer – Becs Andrews
Romeo – Tendayi Jembere
Juliet – Natalie Dew
Tybalt – Lashana Lynch
Mercutio – Ashley Chin
Colour photos © Ludovic Des Cognets
Full details on these productions are available via our online Archive catalogue or by visiting the NT
Archive.
Production photographs
Part 1 page 1
Production photographs
Part 1 page 2
Production photographs
Part 1 page 3
Production photographs
Part 2 page 1
Production photographs
Part 2 page 2
Production photographs
Part 2 page 3
Production photographs
Part 3 page 1
Production photographs
Part 3 page 2
Production photographs
Part 4 page 1
Production photographs
Part 4 page 2
Production photographs
Part 5 page 1
Production photographs
Part 5 page 2
Production photographs
Part 5 page 3
Production photographs
Part 6 page 1
Production photographs
Part 6 page 2
Production photographs
Part 6 page 3
Romeo and Juliet – Plot summary (Lesson 1)
1 In the city of Verona live two families who are enemies – the Montagues and the Capulets.
They regularly fight in the streets and the Prince tells them that if they are caught fighting again they will pay for it
with their lives.
Lord Capulet has a young daughter called Juliet.
Capulet introduces his daughter to a young man called Paris in the hope that she will marry him.
2 The Montagues have a young son called Romeo whose best friend is Mercutio.
The Capulets hold a big party to which they invite everyone except the Montagues.
However, Romeo and Mercutio sneak into the party.
They are seen by Juliet’s cousin Tybalt who is very angry that Romeo and Mercutio are at the party.
Romeo meets Juliet for the first time and they fall in love at first sight. They get married the next day with the help
of Friar Laurence.
3 Tybalt comes to find Romeo to challenge him about attending the party.
Romeo refuses to fight with Tybalt. He considers him to be family now he has married Juliet.
Mercutio gets involved in the argument and fights with Tybalt.
Romeo tries to break up the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio.
Whilst Mercutio is distracted by Romeo, Tybalt wounds Mercutio and he dies.
4 In anger, and to get revenge for Mercutio’s death, Romeo fights with Tybalt and kills him.
Romeo is banished to Mantua, meaning he is not allowed to return to Verona and will be separated from Juliet. If
he does return he will pay with his life.
Juliet hears that Romeo has killed her cousin Tybalt and is full of grief.
5 Romeo and Juliet meet to say goodbye not knowing if they will ever see each other again.
Lord Capulet decides that Juliet should marry Paris the next day and says he will disown her when she refuses.
Helped by Friar Laurence, Juliet makes a plan to get out of marrying Paris and escape to be with Romeo by taking a
sleeping potion and faking her own death.
Friar Laurence sends a letter to Romeo to tell him of the plan.
6 The letter doesn’t reach Romeo and he hears news that Juliet is dead.
Romeo returns to Verona and, believing Juliet to be dead, visits the Capulet tomb where her body has been laid.
Thinking Juliet is dead, Romeo poisons himself and dies.
Juliet wakes and finds Romeo dead. She kills herself rather than live without him.
As a result of the death of their children the two families decide to end their feud for good.
Character Notes Sheet (Lesson 2)
ROMEOROMEOROMEOROMEO
JULIETJULIETJULIETJULIET
MERCUTIOMERCUTIOMERCUTIOMERCUTIO
TYBALTTYBALTTYBALTTYBALT
Romeo’s soliloquy from the balcony scene – Act 2, Scene 2 (Lesson 3)
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
Juliet’s soliloquy from the balcony scene – Act 2, Scene 2 (Lesson 3)
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy family and refuse thy name.
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy:
Thou art thyself and not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand nor foot
Nor arm nor face nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O be some other name.
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd.
Production photographs of Romeo – The balcony scene (Lesson 3)
Production photographs of Juliet – The balcony scene (Lesson 3)
Individual character map template (Lesson 4)
Who am I?
What has just happened ?
What am I feeling?
Soliloquy guide notes (Lesson 4)
Here are some questions to ask yourself as a guide as you create your
soliloquy...
*Remember you are writing from your character’s point of view so you need to write in the
first person*
What has just happened?
What is happening to you right now?
What do you think about/feel about yourself at this moment?
Who is being/has been affected by your actions? What do you feel about them?
What are your emotions at this moment?
Is there a problem or dilemma that you are facing at this moment? Do you have a decision
to make? What is it?
What are your current choices/options?
How do you feel about the choices that lie before you at this moment?
Where are you right now? Are you hiding? In the middle of a storm? In your enemy’s
house? How will this affect the way you speak?