ROMEO & JULIET

Associate Producer: Iain Moggach

Stage Manager and Assistant Choreographer: Alea Carrington

Production Manager: Eva Carroll

Technical Director: Andy Williamson

Set Designer: Iain Moggach, Carey Nicholson, Alora Kotelo

Costume Designer and Props Master: Alora Kotelo

Production Photography by Barry McCulskey

Romeo: Ben McIntyre-Ridd

Juliet: Una Rouslton

Nurse/Prince: Shannon Pitre

Mercutio/Paris: Kieran Prouty

Capulet: Elm Reyes

Tybalt/Friar Laurence: Michael Williamson

Benvolio: Hilary Wheeler

When Landon and I decided to return to the musical production of Romeo and Juliet we first created at Old Flame Brewery in Port Perry in 2015, I knew I had to answer two questions:

What does an audience need from Romeo and Juliet in 2026?

And how can music become so deeply woven into the play that Shakespeare’s story feels revealed through it? Enlightened by it?

As I returned to the text, I was struck by how often the play reaches beyond the ordinary world. It is full of dreams, ghosts, curses, premonitions, and forces the characters can feel but cannot control. That opened the door for me: what if the music was shaping the story? What if the music was Fate?

In this production, Fate moves through the play as sound, rhythm, voice, and body. It draws the lovers forward. It gives form to fear, longing, memory, and death. It transforms private feeling into something visible. It asks us to confront a world where young people inherit old violence, and reconciliation arrives too late.

My hope is that the music in Romeo and Juliet makes the play feel more tender, more haunted, and more alive. And perhaps, after seeing this version, the next time you encounter Romeo and Juliet without music, you may miss it as much as I do.

Thank you to Carey and Theatre on the Ridge for making this production possible. Thank you to Marissa and my family for their endless support. Thank you to our production team, our cast, and Alea for going on this journey with such courage, enthusiasm, and generosity. And thank you to Landon for their unmatched artistry, meaningful friendship, and continued collaboration.

And thank you, truly, for being here.

-  Iain

I dedicate this production to my Dearest Cousin, Elsie.

After the extraordinary success of Bluebirds, Landon Doak approached me with the idea of rebuilding and remounting our musical rendition of Romeo and Juliet. With the breadth of experience we both gained since its original production in 2015 (Landon having recieved numerous substantial accolaides such as Dora Award wins and nominations, and me with my experience developing, producing, and directing works across the province), and the fact that fate had given us a company in Port Perry (where the show was originally produced) that embraced the scrappy mentality of our original production, it felt like the perfect time.

Carey, the Artistic Director of Theatre on the Ridge, loved the idea. I have to admit, this did surprise me a little. The scope of it - 7 actor-musicians, multiple characters, etc., was a far cry from the minimalist restraint of Bluebirds, but I certainly wasn't going to question it.

I have to say, I have loved working with Landon again. It felt like we fell right back into the old rhythm of the creative partnership that blossomed close to 15 years ago. Except, just older, wiser, and while a little world weary from the whips and scorns of our industry, still the same hopeful, scrappy kids.

This process has also been a great opportunity to dive back into Shakespeare. I realized that the last time I directed a full Shakespeare production was 2018! And though I had directed R&J before, it had been so long it might as well have been new.

The launch of the project was strong. We received an OAC Recommender grant from Talk is Free Theatre that supported a 3 day workshop of the music, which is where the current photos are from. Not only did that workshop allow Landon to refine some of the music, but it also got the music into the mouths and bodies of the cast a month before rehearsal. And it had the bonus effect of breaking the ice between everyone.

The production was a big success and a learning opportunity. While I am extremely proud of what we accomplished, I already see the opportunities to make it even stronger. Additionally, I had a great time with great people, Port Perry is a beautiful place, and, I truly believe this piece, with some refinement, deserves, and should have, a promising future.