John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet will return to the stage as a centrepiece of The Australian Ballet’s 2026 season, bringing one of the twentieth century’s most celebrated narrative ballets back to audiences across three cities.
The production opens at the Sydney Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre from 24 April to 13 May, before travelling to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from 6 to 16 June and concluding at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Lyric Theatre in Brisbane from 15 to 22 August.
First performed by The Australian Ballet in 1974, Cranko’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy has become a cornerstone of the company’s repertoire. The ballet pairs sweeping crowd scenes with emotionally charged pas de deux, drawing audiences into the exhilaration of first love and the devastation of its loss.
For the 2026 season, the production returns newly refreshed following its last staging in 2022. Updated sets and choreography have been developed in close collaboration with Stuttgart Ballet, ensuring Cranko’s cinematic storytelling continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.
Artistic Director David Hallberg said the ballet remains one of the artform’s most powerful portrayals of young love.
“At its core, Romeo and Juliet is about love in its most vulnerable form. John Cranko’s choreography has an extraordinary ability to draw audiences into the inner lives of these characters, making their joy and heartbreak feel deeply personal.”
Hallberg added that the ballet places significant demands on its performers.
“This ballet demands everything from the dancers, technically and emotionally. Seeing a new generation of artists step into these iconic roles is both a privilege and a powerful reminder of why this story continues to resonate.”
Set to Sergei Prokofiev’s sweeping score and featuring Jürgen Rose’s richly detailed sets and costumes, the production evokes the world of Renaissance Verona, where the long-standing feud between the Montagues and Capulets frames the brief but profound love between the young protagonists.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest narrative ballets of the twentieth century, Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet remains a defining work within The Australian Ballet’s history and a production that continues to draw new audiences to the artform.
The 2026 season is supported by Lady Potter AC CMRI and The David Hallberg Fund for Artistic Aspiration.