'Two households, both alike in dignity…'

In this bold new adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless tale of love, loyalty and violence, Romeo and Juliet, is reimagined in Lahore, August 1947.  

Once bound by friendship and mutual respect, the Sikh Metharus and the Muslim Chaudhry families find their relationship fractured by mounting political and communal tensions, as the impending division of India and the divisive legacy of British rule sow mistrust, uncertainty and conflict.  

Against the backdrop of a city standing at the brink of irreversible change, this new version places the star-crossed lovers amid the gathering storm that would transform Lahore forever. Juxtaposing the passion and tragedy of Shakespeare’s famous romance with a community's descent from peaceful coexistence into brutal sectarian violence, this rehearsed reading offers a fresh and deeply moving exploration of love, identity and the human cost of history.

Coinciding with the 80th anniversary of partition, this powerful reimagining revisits one of the defining moments of South Asian history through the lens of Shakespeare’s most enduring love story.

Written by Joeravar Sangha and Taqi Nazeer

Dramaturg Atri Banerjee

A rehearsed reading of a new play commission by the National Theatre of Scotland presented in association with the Glasgow Mela.

Date: Sat 24 Jul 2027

Venue: National Theatre of Scotland, Rockvilla, 125 Craighall Road, Glasgow, G4 9TL