It's the smash hit Shakespearian pop musical which turns the greatest love story ever told on its head. 

There is life after Romeo in &Juliet which graces the Mayflower Theatre stage for the first time next week, encouraging the audience to 'break free of the balcony scene'.

Created by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek, this hilarious new musical has picked up three Olivier Awards and six WhatsOnStage Awards during its celebrated West End run and is now out on its first UK tour. 

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Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems, including Britney Spears’…Baby One More Time, Katy Perry’s Roar, and chart toppers Since U Been Gone, It’s My Life, Can’t Stop the Feeling and more.

(Image: Mayflower Theatre) Matt Cardle, the Southampton born X Factor winner, stars as William Shakespeare. 

He said: "It turns Romeo and Juliet inside out and completely on its head. You wouldn't normally dare do that kind of thing to Shakespeare but they've got the story so right. It makes for a completely different, completely unexpected show. I don't think anyone who hasn't seen it already will expect anything like this. It's just complete joy.

"I'd heard so many amazing things about it, then I read it and was blown about by how brilliant, clever and funny it was. And getting to play someone as iconic as William Shakespeare was something I just couldn't say no to.

"For me, Everybody (Backstreet's Back) is an absolute classic. There's a moment with Shakespeare, Romeo, Francois, Lance and May where we put a boyband together and we do that song with the full dance routine. To say it's a guilty pleasure is an understatement. It's something I never thought I would do and something I'd never thought I'd enjoy doing either but I'm loving it. It's very different to the kind of music I normally make but that's what's so fun about it."

(Image: Mayflower Theatre) &Juliet is at Mayflower Theatre from Tuesday (November 5) to Saturday (November 9). 

Tickets are on sale now from mayflower.org.uk or by calling 023 8071 1811.