
Pack a picnic basket and cosy up for a romantic date night under the stars; the Singapore Repertory Theatre returns with the greatest love story ever told.
Swoon over this: a gourmet picnic under a moonlit sky, chilled sparkling wine and the greatest (and most tragic) romance of all time unfolding before your eyes. Aside from these romantic restos and secret rendezvous spots, you need to tick Singapore Repertory Theatre‘s annual Shakespeare in the Park off your couple’s bucket list, especially since it’s staging the tear-jerking, heart-wrenching masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet, from April to May. Here’s why this year’s production of Romeo and Juliet promises a killer date night…
The legendary, tragic love tale
Set in “fair Verona”, the young star-crossed lovers – Juliet of the Capulets and Romeo of the Montagues – are tragically defeated by destiny even before their story can begin – no thanks to the long-standing feud between their families. Battles, drama and *gasp* suicide attempts ensue. Avid theatregoers, prepare to delight in pure Shakespearean mastery with SRT’s seamless delivery of famous scenes – yup, including the one with the balcony. New to the story? We’re no spoiler snitches, but we will say this: be sure to have a box of tissues (and your lover’s shoulder) handy. Men, don’t write this off as yet another sappy love story; the play’s packed with epic brawls, sword fights and hand-to-hand combat.
A theatrical spectacle worthy of the Bard
If past (spectacular) Shakespeare in the Park productions are anything to go by, this year’s edition is set to be truly phenomenal with loads of visually-arresting scenes. 2013’s Othello featured an extremely realistic video projection of a helicopter, while last year’s The Tempest dazzled audiences with the tallest set ever to be built in Fort Canning Park, and its stunning stage design of an open book. Performance-wise, expect nothing less than a sublime spin on this centuries-old play with internationally-renowned director David Slater at the helm, and a hugely talented cast under his wings.
Snuggle up under the stars
Bring your comfiest picnic blanket, pack a basket of goodies and – tip alert! – come early to scout for a good spot. Fyi: it’s a BYOB event: so be sure to bring that special-occasion champagne or wine you’ve been saving. Throw in fresh strawberries and gourmet sammies into the mix, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate outdoor date. Cosy up with a little dusktime chat, a bit of bubbly and soak up the crowd’s good vibes as you wait for the show to start.
Or, if you’re looking to impress, book the Pavilion Package – this includes a seat, two glasses of wine or soft drinks, canapés and a souvenir programme with blow-by-blow accounts of each act of the play.

But if you’re not with the other half…
Don’t sweat it. Despite Romeo and Juliet’s romantic gist, the festive atmosphere sets the tone for a fab night with families and friends. Be sure to snap up the Watch with Friends package, which awards you with a complimentary ticket when you buy five or more tickets in a single transaction.
Get your tickets to Shakespeare in the Park – Romeo and Juliet which runs from Wednesday, 27 April ’til Sunday, 22 May 2016 at Fort Canning Park. Play starts at 7.30pm with doors opening at 6.30pm. Ticket cost $40 to $108.
This article is sponsored by the Singapore Repertory Theatre.