Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare's enduring tragic love story follows two young lovers from dueling families of Verona. Romeo Montague with his cousin Benvolio attends a Capulet ball and meets 13 year old Juliet Capulet, falling instantly in love. Despite the courtship of Juliet by Count Paris and their families' mutual hatred, Juliet vows to love Romeo forever. With the help of Friar Laurence, who hopes that the union will help end the violence between the families, the young couple secretly marries. When Juliet's cousin Tybalt, furious that Romeo broke into the Capulet ball, challenges Romeo to a duel, Romeo refuses, believing Tybalt to now be a kinsman. Mercutio accepts the duel in Romeo's place and is killed when the new groom attempts to break up the fight. Driven by grief and guilt, Romeo slays Tybalt and is banished from Verona. The lovers' attempts to get back together end in their tragic deaths and peace, at last, between the Montagues and Capulets. Written between 1590 and 1597. Pictured below: Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet.
ROMEO AND JULIET Costumes (Romeo Montague, Juliet Capulet)
