When was the earliest known version of Romeo and Juliet published?
Masuccio Salernitano published the earliest known version resembling Shakespeare's plot in 1476. Luigi da Porto adapted this story in 1524 as Giulietta e Romeo.
Questions about Romeo and Juliet
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What date did Luigi da Porto claim to witness the real events for his story?
Da Porto claimed his story was based on real events he witnessed during a peace ceremony in Udine on the 26th of February 1511. He set it in Verona and introduced the feuding families, the balcony scene, and the double suicide.
Which quarto edition is considered the superior text for modern editions of Romeo and Juliet?
The superior second quarto appeared in 1599 printed by Thomas Creede and published by Cuthbert Burby. It contained approximately eight hundred more lines than the first quarto and was titled The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet.
Who played Juliet in the first professional performance by a woman in 1662?
Sir William Davenant staged adaptation in 1662 featuring Mary Saunderson as Juliet possibly making her first professional woman to play role professionally. This production occurred after all theatres closed the 6th of September 1642 under Puritan rule until restoration in 1660 established patent companies dividing repertoire.
When did the most recent production of Romeo and Juliet run at Duke of York's Theatre?
Recent productions include Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers running the 11th of May 2024 at Duke of York's Theatre directed Jamie Lloyd. This follows earlier adaptations such as Franco Zeffirelli's Old Vic production 1960 serving basis for film released same year.