"& Juliet" has been played to sold-out houses in several countries, including on Broadway and West End. Next year, it will come to Sweden and Cirkus in Stockholm.
The musical is described as a modern interpretation of Shakespeare's classic work "Romeo and Juliet", but where the story takes entirely new paths.
Spreader of Joy
In the Swedish version, Viktor Norén plays William Shakespeare, Oscar Zia plays Romeo, and Joanné Nugas plays Julia. According to Norén, the production is about following one's heart and breaking free from norms.
It's a spreader of joy that's needed in our increasingly strange world. Although it's a romantic comedy, it feels incredibly important and something I take very seriously, he says.
For Norén, it was a given to accept the role, partly due to the musical's message but also because the music consists of Swedish super-producer and hit-maker Max Martin's pop hits.
You get a whole new understanding of his heavenly music when you see this musical. He's not a genius, he's a magician, he says, and continues:
And the fact that he's Swedish makes it incredibly honorable to stand on a stage and represent this heritage from him.
New Light
What is it that makes Max Martin's songs suitable for a musical?
A musical is about telling a story, and you use music as an emotional amplifier to convey your message. Then you need melodies that shoot straight into people's hearts.
The fact that Martin's hits are reworked into musical versions also makes them appear in a new light, according to Viktor Norén:
That's what happens with such super-hits – you've heard them so many times that you rarely stop and listen to them. When I, for example, heard "I'm not a girl, not yet a woman" with Britney Spears in this interpretation, I heard what an incredibly painful, beautiful melody it is.
Original title: "& Juliet".
Created by: David West Read.
The Swedish version is directed by Edward af Sillén after a translation by Calle Norlén. Max Martin is co-producer.
In the roles: Viktor Norén, Oscar Zia, Joanné Nugas, Sussie Eriksson, Martin Redhe Nord, and others.
Premiere: At Cirkus in Stockholm on February 19, 2026.
Tickets will be released on February 14.
