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Juliet & Romeo _ Ben Duke
Forget everything you think you know about star-crossed lovers as this performance reimagines the iconic duo navigating a relatable midlife crisis. Through a witty blend of dance and theatre, the stage explores the messy, hilarious, and deeply moving realities of a long-term relationship. It is a brilliant twist on a classic tale that feels surprisingly current.
Théâtre de la Ville - Abbesses (Paris 18th)
About
Choreographer Ben Duke reimagines the iconic Shakespearean duo in Juliet & Roméo, a dance-theatre piece exploring the couple's life after the original tragedy. Instead of a youthful romance, this production focuses on a middle-aged pair navigating the complexities of modern marriage and relationship therapy. Blending dark British humor with expressive movement, the performance deconstructs the couple's legacy while confronting the mundanity of contemporary life. Recommended for ages 14 and up, the show takes place at Théâtre de la Ville - Abbesses from October 24 to October 28, 2026. Tickets become available to the public on September 1, 2026, at 12:00.
Juliet and Romeo? If Ben Duke reverses the first names of humanity's most iconic couple, it is because his dance-theater does not intend to tell you a story you already know. His very British humor brings him into the life of an ordinary couple going through a mid-life crisis. For here, Juliet and Romeo have survived. Their world is ours, their story resembles ours, their passion has been lost along the way. But since their spiritual father is still called Shakespeare, they measure themselves daily against his words and all the ballets created in their name. But in the present, their reality is couples therapy. It is sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, and the dance is there to sublimate everything.
Thomas Hahn
Our take on this event
Théâtre de la Ville - Abbesses hosts Ben Duke’s witty and poignant take on the world's most famous lovers. In this version, the pair has survived, finding themselves in their forties, long after the poison and the daggers. Their reality is no longer a grand tragedy but a series of domestic tensions and therapeutic sessions that mirror the challenges faced by ordinary couples today.
The performance serves as a creative dialogue between the weight of Shakespeare’s original text and the physical realities of modern existence. The choreography elevates the mundane to something truly moving, shifting seamlessly between laugh-out-loud comedy and heartbreak. This production is performed in English with French surtitles.
The show runs from October 24 to October 28, 2026. Ticket sales open on September 1, 2026, at 12:00. Special discounted rates are available for students, those under 30, and cardholders.
