The Rubbish Shakespeare Company will bring its production Romeo and Juliet, But Rubbish to the Leicester Comedy Festival this February, with performances at The Guildhall, Leicester.
on Sunday 15 February 2026 at 1pm and 3pm, and Monday 16 February 2026 at 11am and 2pm.
The 60-minute show, on Sunday 15 February at 1pm and 3pm, and Monday 16 February at 11am and 2pm, is aimed at family audiences and forms part of both the Leicester Comedy Festival and the UK Kids Comedy Festival. It presents a condensed retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, performed by three actors using improvised staging, recycled props and physical comedy.
Picture credit: Rubbish Shakespeare Company
The production previously toured the UK in 2024, visiting 22 venues, and returned for a short summer run in 2025. Performances included appearances at a number of UK festivals, among them the Milton Keynes International Festival.
On stage, the performers attempt to recreate Shakespeare’s tragedy using a deliberately stripped-back aesthetic that includes second-hand costumes, everyday objects and minimal set. The approach combines extracts from the original text with clowning, slapstick and direct engagement with the audience.
The iconic, romantic balcony scene is re-imagined with a person acting as the balcony, and the plot features flying sausage rolls. It features three “hapless idiots” (actors) who mockingly perform the play, often breaking the fourth wall to complain about the script.
Lee Hithersay, who performs multiple roles including Juliet, said the contrast between the play’s romantic reputation and the company’s approach often shapes audience response. “It’s meant to be romantic, but people tend to laugh,” he said. “There are moments where things fall apart, and that’s part of how the story is told.”
Although the show appears improvised, actor Clem Studholme said the structure is tightly planned. “It looks chaotic, but it’s carefully rehearsed,” he said. “The mistakes are deliberate and used to move the story forward.”
The Rubbish Shakespeare Company was founded in 2010 and has developed a range of productions aimed at younger and family audiences. Alongside its Shakespeare adaptations, the company toured its original interactive show The Story Forge: Make Your Own Myth in 2025, playing venues across the UK.
The Leicester performances will take place at The Guildhall, a historic venue associated with Shakespeare’s work, during the February Half Term period.
