ROMEO AND JULIET
Talmi Entertainment unveils a powerful new staging of Shakespeare’s classic love story Romeo and Juliet for 2026, featuring bold and emotionally charged choreography by the rising star of ballet, Viktor Daviduk. A young and exciting choreographer with a contemporary flair, Daviduk brings a fresh artistic language to this timeless tale. His acclaimed ballet Van Gogh, a vivid and emotional journey through the artist’s life, serves as a major inspiration for this new vision of Romeo and Juliet—infused with themes of peace, love, and the transformative power of art.
Presented by East West Ballet, this new production builds bridges across cultures and generations, echoing the mission of harmony that lies at the heart of Daviduk’s work. The choreography reimagines the emotional core of the story—love defying hatred—with a modern sensitivity that speaks to today’s audiences.
The production features lavish new costumes by nationally renowned designer and Talmi Entertainment Resident Designer Arthur Oliver, as well as hand-painted sets crafted in the tradition of the Italian Renaissance, created in one of St. Petersburg’s oldest theatrical workshops.
A company of nearly 40 dancers—internationally awarded professionals from across Europe and Asia—bring the story to life with passion and precision. The principals are celebrated by critics and audiences alike for their dramatic range and technical brilliance.
The story opens in the village square, where tensions erupt in a youthful street brawl. Romeo Montague, accompanied by friends, crashes a lavish party at the Capulet estate where he first lays eyes on Juliet. Their connection is instant and profound. Under the stars, they declare their eternal love in a tender balcony scene. Hoping to end the long-standing feud between their families, the compassionate Friar Lawrence marries the couple in secret.
But peace is shattered when Juliet’s cousin Tybalt kills Romeo’s friend Mercutio. Grief-stricken, Romeo retaliates, killing Tybalt, and is sentenced to exile.
Juliet turns again to Friar Lawrence, who devises a desperate plan: she will drink a potion to feign death, and once entombed, Romeo will retrieve her when the truth is revealed. But the message never reaches him. Believing Juliet has died, Romeo takes poison by her side. She awakens, finds Romeo gone, and takes her own life.
This Romeo and Juliet, reimagined through Viktor Daviduk’s lens, becomes not only a story of tragic love but a reflection on the human longing for connection, beauty, and peace in a divided world.
