It’s been announced that a new musical, based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and featuring the music of Max Martin, will premiere at Manchester Opera House ahead of a West End transfer to the Shaftesbury Theatre later this year.

Titled & JULIET, the musical looks at what might have happened if Juliet didn’t die at the end of the play. The musical will feature the hits of songwriter and producer Max Martin, who has written for artists including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys. & JULIET follows Juliet and her best friends heading to Paris to try and recover from the death of her soulmate. Songs confirmed to appear in & JULIET include ‘Baby One More Time’, ‘Love Me Like You Do’ and ‘I Can’t Feel My Face’.

Miriam-Teak Lee has been announced to lead the production as Juliet. Lee graduated from drama school in 2017 and was immediately awarded a leading role in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of ON THE TOWN, a performance that earned Lee Best Actress in a Musical at The Stage Debut Awards. Lee then joined the ensemble of the original West End cast of HAMILTON, where she covered the leading roles of Angelica / Eliza / Peggy.

& JULIET will premiere at the Manchester Opera House from 10th September to 12th October before arriving at the West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre 2nd November, with press night scheduled for 20th November.

The production will be directed by Luke Sheppard, whose previous credits include IN THE HEIGHTS at Southwark Playhouse and King’s Cross Theatre, WORKING at Southwark Playhouse and SPRING AWAKENING at Hope Mill Theatre. & JULIET will mark Sheppard’s West End directorial debut. The piece also features choreography by Jennifer Weber, lighting by Howard Hudson, sound design by Gareth Owen, costume design by Paloma Young and set design by Soutra Gilmour. Bill Sherman provides new orchestrations for Martin’s music.

& JULIET opens at Manchester Opera house from 10th September to 12th October. It will then play at the Shaftesbury Theatre from 2nd November with opening night on 20th November. Tickets go on sale from 11th February.