ROMEO and Juliet has been hit with a trigger warning — with audiences informed it featured violent scenes and death.
Shakespeare’s classic 16th-century love story has been “retold” as a modern ballet.
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But London’s Royal Opera House deemed it necessary to warn potential visitors the production includes themes of “violence and death”.
Sir Ian McKellen, who has appeared in Romeo and Juliet productions throughout his career, previously hit out at “ludicrous” warnings.
He said: “I quite like to be surprised by loud noises and outrageous behaviour on stage.”
It comes four years after The Globe in London warned of “upsetting” themes in the play, and provided a number for The Samaritans.
They were even provided a number for the Samaritans for after the show.
Actor Christopher Biggins said: “Do we have to have signs for everything under the sun?
“It’s a joke. What they are trying to do is insulting to the mentality of theatre-goers.”
The Globe has also warned about themes of “violence, sexual references, misogyny and racism” in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as “anti-semitism” in The Merchant of Venice.
In February, the University of the West of England slapped over 200 trigger warnings on Shakespeare’s work – including “bad weather” in The Tempest.
The Royal Opera House was asked to comment.
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