Though it is celebrated as one of the greatest love stories of all time, Romeo & Juliet is also among the most tragic. The story results in the death of several characters, even those in the title. But perhaps, it is its heart-breaking ending that also makes this tale so fascinating, being adapted into plays, films, paintings and even dance through the centuries. With the observance of All Souls’ Day, we share clips and photos from Ballet Manila’s various stagings of Romeo & Juliet – focusing on the sad fate of the young couple, the images coming with a fitting quote on love and death from William Shakespeare’s literary classic.

“A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.”

– Prologue

“Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.”
– Romeo (Act 5, Scene 3)

“For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
– Prince Escalus (Act 5, Scene 3)

“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume.”

– Friar Lawrence (Act 2, Scene 6)

“O happy dagger!
This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die.”
– Juliet (Act 5, Scene 3)

“For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes
This vault a feasting presence full of light.”
– Romeo (Act 5, Scene 3)