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Romeo and Juliet: Autumn Term 2011

William Shakespeare

‘Romeo and Juliet’(Adapted)

The Prologue

EVERYONE TO READ CHORUS

CHORUS: Two households both alike in dignity

(In fair Verona where we lay our scene),

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life:

Scene 1

NARRATOR: The peace on the streets of Verona has been

disturbed. Another fight has broken out between theMontagues and Capulets, two powerful families who have

fought each other for as long as anyone can remember.

VOICE: Down with the Capulets, down with the Montagues!

ABRAHM: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

SAMPSON: I do bite my thumb, sir.

VOICE 2: A plague on both your houses!

(Enter BENVOLIO AND TYBALT)

BENVOLIO: I do but keep the peace.

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TYBALT: Peace? Peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all

Montagues and thee.

(Enter PRINCE)

PRINCE: Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace! If ever you

disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of

the peace. On pain of death, all men depart.

Scene 2

NARRATOR: Later that day, Romeo- a Montague- learns thatthere is to be a masquerade held at the House of Capulet. His

best friend, Mercutio, suggests they go because Romeo has

been so depressed over Rosaline who he loves, but she doesn’t

love him. Since everyone will be wearing masks, nobody would

know if a Montague was there!

VOICE: If you be not of the House of Montague, I pray come

and crush a cup of wine.

ROMEO: Forswear it, sight, for I ne’er saw true beauty till this

night.

JULIET: Go ask his name.

NURSE: His name is Romeo, and a Montague, the only son of your great enemy.

JULIET: My only love sprung from my only hate!

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Scene 3

NARRATOR: Romeo and Juliet decide to marry in secret. Friar

Lawrence hopes that this will put an end to the fightingbetween the Montagues and Capulets. However, Tybalt- a

fearsome and violent Capulet- knows Romeo went to the

masquerade and confronts him.

TYBALT: Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better

term than this: thou art a villain.

ROMEO: Villain am I none therefore farewell.

(He walks away)

MERCUTIO: O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!

(TYBALT and MECUTIO fight. ROMEO tries to part them and

MERCUTIO is wounded)

MERCUTIO: I am hurt. A plague on both your houses! Ask for

me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man. A plague on both

your houses! They have made worms’ meat of me.

(MERCUTIO dies)

ROMEO: Fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!

(He attacks TYBALT and kills him)

Scene 4

The next narration is to be performed in the style of a news

bulletin.

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NARRATOR: Good evening. Shocking events on the streets

today as another brawl has disturbed the peace. Romeo has

been banished for the murder of Tybalt.

Other news tonight: Juliet from the House of Capulet is to be

married to Paris within the next two days. Preparations are

under way. Now, over to our reporter outside the House of

Capulet.

REPORTER: Yes, preparations are under way despite the death

of Tybalt. Seeing Juliet earlier today she appeared to look

distressed and not like the happy bride-to-be at all. Back tothe studio.

NARRATOR: Juliet must marry Paris. Her whole family still do

not know about her marriage to Romeo. Friar Lawrence has

given her a potion to take. It will make her appear to have died

in her sleep. The plan is for Friar Lawrence to take her out of

the crypt once the potion wears off and reunite her with

Romeo.

However, Romeo does not receive a letter telling him of the

plan. Instead, he hears Juliet has died. He buys some poison

and heads to the crypt.

Scene 5

ROMEO:

Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet,

Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe

That unsubstantial death is amorous,

And that the lean abhorred monster keeps

Thee here in dark to be his paramour?

For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;

And never from this palace of dim night

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Depart again: here, here will I remain

With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here

Will I set up my everlasting rest,

And shake the yoke of inauspicious starsFrom this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!

Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you

The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss

A dateless bargain to engrossing death!

Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!

Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on

The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!

Here's to my love!

(Romeo grabs the poison, takes a drink and dies)

JULIET:

What's here? a cup, closed in my true love's hand?

Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end:

O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop

To help me after? I will kiss thy lips;

Haply some poison yet doth hang on them,

To make die with a restorative.

(Juliet grabs a dagger and stabs herself.)

Scene 6

(The audience see the Capulets and Montagues shaking hands).

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NARRATOR: With the death of Romeo and Juliet, the Capulets

and Montagues end the conflict that has gone on for so many

painful years.

EVERYONE SAY

CHORUS: A glooming peace this morning with it brings. The sun

for sorrow will not show his head. For never was there a story

of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

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