Newcastle Musical Theatre Company

The classic American stage musical inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

With book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, libretto by Stephen Sondheim; co-written by Bernstein, and choreography by Jerome Robbins.

The story is set in the Upper West Side neighbourhood in New York City in the mid-1950s, an ethnic, blue- collar neighbourhood where there is an explosive rivalry between two teenage street gangs 'The Sharks' and 'The Jets'.

The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theatre.