SALISBURY International Arts Festival, running from 16th to 27th June, takes two very different looks at the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, with a community production of Shakespeare’s play, from 24th May to 7th June, and a dance version, Lost Dog’s Juliet & Romeo, which imagines this enduring tale of love turned upside down.

Celebrating 50 years of Salisbury Playhouse, the community production will turn the theatre and its environs into the streets of Verona. Drama, music and parkour collide in this promenade production, which will feature a professional cast alongside over 100 community performers. It will be directed by
Wiltshire Creative artistic director, Gareth Machin.

In Lost Dog’s exciting and imaginative take on the story, the central characters don’t die and are instead middle-aged and working hard at living happily ever after. And who knew that they had a wire-haired fox terrier (on wheels, as so many people remember from childhood!)