The London stage is set for a stellar new production of one of Shakespeare's most enduring tragedies, with two of the most exciting young actors from screen taking on the iconic roles of the star-crossed lovers. Stranger Things star Sadie Sink will make her West End debut as Juliet, opposite British film actor Noah Jupe as Romeo.
A Dream Realised for a Broadway Kid
For Sadie Sink, this role marks a triumphant return to her theatrical roots. Before gaining international fame as Max in the Netflix series Stranger Things, Sink was a 'Broadway kid', having landed the lead role in the musical Annie at just ten years old, a part she performed for 18 months in New York.
"I was a Broadway kid, so I’ve always dreamed about doing a show in the West End," Sink revealed. "To get to do that in one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays under Rob’s direction with Noah will be such an exciting challenge. London theatre has this incredible energy, and I can’t wait to be a part of it."
She follows in the footsteps of other major US stars like Sigourney Weaver, Brie Larson, and Susan Sarandon, who have all made their own acclaimed West End debuts in recent years.
An Exciting Stage Debut and Acclaimed Director
For his part, Noah Jupe, known for early film roles in projects like A Quiet Place, will be making his professional stage debut as Romeo. Jupe is currently set to play Hamlet in a film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao.
"Theatre is something I’ve always been intrigued by," Jupe admitted. "It seems like such a challenging and rewarding experience for an actor. So I was very excited to hear about this project. The combination of Romeo, Rob and Sadie is an opportunity you simply cannot turn down."
At the helm is the Olivier award-winning director Robert Icke, whose recent production of Oedipus was a sell-out hit in the West End and has since transferred to Broadway. Icke is no stranger to Shakespeare, having directed a version of Romeo and Juliet in 2012 and receiving widespread acclaim for his 2017 production of Hamlet starring Andrew Scott.
Icke describes the play as "an explosive play, filled with heat and life, which confronts us with the fragility of our lives and the momentousness of every last second." He added that it is a play he has returned to repeatedly and that the chance to direct it in London with Sink and Jupe is "hugely exciting".
Production Details and a Busy Time for Sink
The production will feature set and costumes designed by Hildegard Bechtler, a frequent Icke collaborator. Romeo and Juliet will run at the Harold Pinter theatre from 16 March to 6 June 2025.
By the time the play opens, fans will know the fate of Sink's Stranger Things character, Max, who was left in a coma at the end of the show's fourth season. The final season begins later this month, with its conclusion scheduled for New Year's Day.
In a testament to her rising stage profile, another play Sink starred in, John Proctor Is the Villain—a performance that earned her a Tony award nomination—is also transferring from Broadway to London's Royal Court theatre. It is scheduled to open within a week of her West End debut in Romeo and Juliet.
