Romeo & Juliet

This stylized film of Shakespeare’s masterpiece from the National Theatre celebrates the theatrical imagination. In this contemporary retelling, a company of actors in a shuttered theater bring to life the tale of two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and hate. Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley star as Shakespeare’s immortal star-crossed lovers.

This stylized film of Shakespeare’s masterpiece from the National Theatre celebrates the theatrical imagination. In this contemporary retelling, a company of actors in a shuttered theater bring to life the tale of two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and hate. Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley star as Shakespeare’s immortal star-crossed lovers.

Romeo (Josh O'Connor) and Juliet (Jessie Buckley) share an intimate moment at the masquerade ball, which ends in heartache when it is revealed they are not of the same house.

The Nurse (Deborah Findlay) confers with Romeo (Josh O'Connor) and then tells Juliet (Jessie Buckley) the joyous news that she will be married.

Learn how the National Theatre and director Simon Godwin transformed "Romeo & Juliet" from a play to a film due to COVID-19 restrictions.

PBS and Great Performances go behind the scenes of National Theatre's Romeo & Juliet, which had to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic from a play to the innovative approach of a film about a play.