Epic and tragic

A love story set in Hong Kong in 1960s

Hong Kong Ballet invites you to experience the thrill of first love and the drama of warring families in 1960s Hong Kong for five shows only! Shakespeare’s timeless tale of star-crossed lovers is given a fresh and thought-provoking retelling in Septime Webre’s lush Romeo + Juliet. Juliet’s father is an unrelenting Shanghainese tycoon who is determined to marry his only daughter off to a wealthy gweilo (Caucasian), not knowing that Juliet has already given her heart to the only son of his greatest enemy.

Accompanied by Prokofiev’s celebrated score, a colourful tale of young love and loss in retro Hong Kong is vividly brought to life with captivating dancing, lively mahjong games and glamorous cheongsams. Webre’s original choreography seamlessly incorporates intense street battles with traditional Hong Kong-style kung fu against visually authentic sets inspired by old Hong Kong’s cityscape. Romeo + Juliet was in high demand during its 2023 US tour, and this brilliantly imagined adaptation is especially relevant for contemporary audiences as it fuses dance and drama against a backdrop of a world in flux.  

'Transposing the action from medieval Italy to 1960s Hong Kong is an ingenious idea which serves the dual purpose of appealing to the local audience while offering a uniquely Hong Kong product for international tours. Visually the production is stunning and there is plenty of good dancing' 
— South China Morning Post


'HKB provided a fresh take on Shakespeare's story. It transported audiences back in time by featuring an intricately designed set that kept changing, along with costumes that captured fashion from the era.'
— China Daily