Primorsky Theater Reimagines Romeo and Juliet in a Gritty 1990s Setting
The Primorsky Regional Youth Drama Theater will end its 2025–2026 season with a bold new production. Romeo and Juliet. The 90s reimagines Shakespeare’s classic tragedy in a gritty 1990s setting. Pavel Makarov, the theater’s artistic director, will oversee the project as writer, director, and set designer.
The play keeps the core of Shakespeare’s story: two young lovers caught between feuding clans. Yet instead of Renaissance Verona, the action unfolds in an unnamed coastal city. The production draws on Pasternak’s Russian translation of Romeo and Juliet but replaces poetic language with raw, unflinching realism.
Makarov’s script weaves in a few of Shakespeare’s original lines. However, the focus shifts to the harsh, contradictory spirit of the 1990s—a decade still shaping modern memory. The era’s chaos and ambiguity become central to the storytelling, reflecting a broader trend in contemporary theatre. The creative team aims to strip away romanticism, exposing the brutality beneath the famous love story. While the plot remains familiar, the setting and tone transform it into something starkly different.
This adaptation marks the latest in a wave of 1990s-inspired theatre works. Romeo and Juliet. The 90s will premiere as the season’s closing performance, offering audiences a fresh take on a timeless tale. The production’s mix of Shakespearean roots and modern realism sets it apart from traditional interpretations.
