Romeo and Juliet

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School are bringing Romeo and Juliet to Tobacco Factory Theatres from Saturday 31 October to Saturday 7 November, as part of their 80th Anniversary Autumn Season. It's a production of the play we all know, but with a specific cast: the school's 3rd year BA acting students, who make up about half of the graduating BA Professional Acting cohort. So you're seeing students in their final stretch of training rather than a professional company.

There's some serious weight behind the direction. Sir Gregory Doran is at the helm, a former student of the school and a world-renowned Shakespeare expert who served as Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He's joined by fellow alum Aldo Vázquez, who's handled both set and costume design. Having two former students return to lead a production for the current crop of students gives the whole thing a bit of a full-circle feel.

The show is pitched at school groups studying Romeo and Juliet for GCSEs, and that comes through in the pricing: there are special school group discounts, with £5 tickets for students and free entry for teachers. There's also a BSL performance on Friday 6 November at 7pm. The age recommendation is 13+.

In terms of when to go, there are performances at 11am, 2pm and 7pm, with the 11am slots aimed at schools. The running time is 2 hours 30 minutes, including an interval. Tickets are £15 standard, with concession prices of £10 and £5. You'll find it at The Factory Theatre, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1TF.