Setting

Click on the images below to find out more about the setting of Richard II and what we know about where the play is set.

There is an historical feud between the two central families, the Montagues and Capulets, that affects the whole city of Verona.
There is an ‘official religion’ of some description. Friar Laurence is part of this.
There is law enforcement which is led by Prince Escalus, who has banned fighting in the streets.
Verona has a clear social structure where men are in charge.
The people of Verona have access to weapons of some kind and use them in their fights.
The Capulets and the Montagues are wealthy families and employ servants, including a Nurse who has brought Juliet up since she was a baby.

Every performance of Romeo and Juliet will be set in a place that has all of the things above but they can do that in lots of different ways. For example, the play could be set in any situation where two young people from different backgrounds or groups find love, such as 1950s England or Northern Ireland in the 1980s.

Why do you think changing the setting might be helpful for modern audiences? What worlds can you think of where Romeo and Juliet might be set?

Teacher Notes

On this page students can explore some of the key things that we know about the setting of Romeo and Juliet by clicking on the pictures.

You can use these pictures, or other images, as a starting point to discuss what they know about the setting of the play and to think about where they would set the play if they were creating their own production. A great way of doing this visually is for students to create a mood board or collage of images that could be used as design inspiration.

The activity in the Teacher Notes on the Productions page develops on this and asks students to think about creating a design for Verona.