Romeo and Juliet | Teatro Duse

Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 9:00 p.m., Teatro Duse, Bologna – Romeo and Juliet

The immortal tragedy by William Shakespeare comes to life in the extraordinary choreographic interpretation by Fredy Franzutti for Balletto del Sud, one of Italy’s most active and internationally acclaimed dance companies.

In this reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet, the powerful score by SSergej Sergeevič Prokof'ev (1936) accompanies a narrative set in Aragonese Italy — a dark and violent world reflecting the drama of the story. Franzutti draws inspiration from the original tale by Masuccio Salernitano, one of the earliest authors to recount the misfortunes of the doomed lovers, long before Shakespeare’s version.

What makes this production unique is its visual design: sets and costumes evoke medieval and Renaissance art, recalling the works of Giotto, Piero della Francesca, and Cimabue. The result is a suspended, two-dimensional visual universe that immerses the audience in a timeless atmosphere between abstraction and symbolism.

Since its debut in 1998, this production has received enthusiastic acclaim from both audiences and critics, establishing itself as one of the company’s most representative works.

The performance was broadcast in full by Rai 2 on Christmas night in 2010 and has been repeated several times by Rai Uninettuno, attesting to its artistic value and powerful emotional impact.

Balletto del Sud
Romeo and Juliet
Ballet in two acts by Sergej Sergeevič Prokof'ev
Choreography: Fredy Franzutti
Music: Sergej Sergeevič Prokof'ev