Newark-born Jay McGuiness to play Shakespeare in award-winning musical & Juliet at Theatre Royal, Nottingham

Newark’s Jay McGuiness is to join the tour of global sensation & Juliet, including shows in his home county.

The Wanted band member and 2015 Strictly Come Dancing winner will play Shakespeare during the second leg of the tour, including a week at Theatre Royal, Nottingham, from Monday, April 14, to Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Jay joins current tour cast members Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet, Lara Denning as Anne, Sandra Marvin as Angelique, Jack Danson as Romeo, Kyle Cox as Francois and Jordan Broatch as May.

He said: “I love these songs; Max Martin has written hit after hit. I’ve really missed singing and dancing as the last thing I did was a play, so I’m excited to get back into it. And I love the & Juliet costumes, especially Shakespeare’s.”

The star started dance classes in his early teens, and later attended The Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama in Nottingham.

& Juliet will whisk audiences away on a abulous journey as Juliet ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love — her way.

Created by David West Read, the Emmy-winning writer, the hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told and asks, what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo?

Through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name —including Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time,” Katy Perry’s “Roar” and chart toppers “Since U Been Gone,” “It’s My Life,” “I Want It That Way,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” — Juliet’s new story comes to life in a romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo.