The world-premiere touring production, conceived and created exclusively for this company, is the Scottish Ballet's first full-length commission for an external choreographer while under the Artistic Direction of Ashley Pagset.

Additionally it marks a continuing relationship with renowned choreographer Pastor (resident choreographer for the Dutch National Ballet) following Scottish Ballet's much applauded performance of his work In Light and Shadow at the Edinburgh International Festival two years ago.

Following its opening stint at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre Romeo and Juliet will tour to His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen, Eden Court in Inverness and Glasgow's Theatre Royal.

Tatyana Van Walsum designed the sets, with lighting design contributed by Bert Dalhusen.

Press notes describe the work: "Mixing the aesthetic allure of contemporary dance steeped in classical ballet technique, Krzysztof Pastor translates Shakespeare's most famous tale for a dance audience with the support of esteemed Dramaturge Willem Bruls."

"Set to the dramatic, and colorful Sergei Prokofiev score - played live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra and with special rearrangement by kind permission of the Prokofiev estate - Pastor's Romeo and Juliet is a timeless reinterpretation in both the literal and narrative sense. Told through the era of twentieth century Italy, the story intertwines with projected footage and features designs washed in striking black and white through to sepia concluding with the introduction of imposing color strands. The issues that pervade this archetypal love story resonate in time and place, and while the characters of Romeo and Juliet remain cultural icons that remind us that society creates challenges that are not the sole propriety of a single time or generation, this brand new production is as synonymous for a contemporary audience as those watching the original Shakespearian performances."

The tour schedule is as follows:

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE
May 13-17
www.eft.co.uk for more info

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE
May 21-24
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com for more info

EDEN COURT, INVERNESS
May 28-31
www.eden-court.co.uk for more info

THEATRE ROYAL, GLASGOW
June 4-7
www.theatreroyalglasgow.com for more info

For general information on Romeo and Juliet and the Scottish Ballet visit www.scottishballet.co.uk

Here is a glimpse at the Company members hard at work rehearsing the piece before hitting the road:

Tama Barry as Tybalt and Erik Cavallari as Romeo

Jarrko Lehmus as Capulet and Limor Ziv as Lady Capulet

Krzysztof Pastor and Tama Barry

Erik Cavallari as Romeo, Sophie Martin as Juliet and Krzysztof Pastor

Paul Liburd

Sophie Martin as Juliet, Erik Cavallari as Romeo and Krzysztof Pastor

Erik Cavallari as Romeo and Sophie Martin as Juliet

Tomomi Sato as Juliet and Tama Barry as Romeo

Two sets of star-crossed lovers: Erik Cavallari & Sophie Martin (foreground) and Tama Barry & Tomomi Sato (background)

Paul Liburd as Tybalt and Tama Barry as Romeo