Malorie Blackman's 'Romeo and Juliet' is to be included in the RSC's winter programme. The Highly acclaimed book Noughts and Crosses is to be adapted for the stage and directed by Dominic Cooke, former RSC Associate Director, and now Artistic Director of The Royal Court Theatre, London. The story is a modern day tale of star-crossed lovers set in a surreal world where you are either a ‘nought’ with white skin or a ‘cross’ with dark skin, and violence ensues when the two try to mix.

With work due to begin on the transformation of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) this spring, the RSC will perform its repertoire of Christmas 2007-08 productions at the Civic Hall, Rother Street in Stratford-upon-Avon.