Romeo and Juliet (For Kids)

Cal Connor is an actor and creative practitioner trained at LIPA Sixth Form College, Frantic Assembly’s Ignition, and the National Youth Theatre.

Working across screen, regional theatre, and national tours, Cal’s work is rooted in fast-paced physical performance and bold storytelling. He regularly collaborates with leading UK theatre companies, bringing energy, focus, and strong ensemble work to every project he takes on.

Alongside acting, Cal is a drama facilitator who has run arts workshops with ATG Inspire at the Liverpool Empire, helping open up creative doors for young people in the theatre space.

Ruby is delighted to be performing with Storyhouse in the role of Juliet. With a love for performance and storytelling, Ruby trained at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, where they’ve had the opportunity to develop their skills across a range of performance styles. They love the language and plays of Shakespeare and hope to excite and inspire people with the combination of drama, comedy, acting, singing, and brilliance that Shakespeare has to offer. Romeo and Juliet holds a significant connection for Ruby, and they are especially excited to bring Juliet to life and share this production.

Ben is delighted to be working directly with the Storyhouse for the first time and joining the team for the brand new adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. A show that has somehow evaded him until now! Originally from Warrington, Cheshire, Ben trained at The School of Creative Arts at Blackpool & The Fylde College, graduating in 2013. Ben has undertaken a variety of other Shakespearian roles such as Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Touchstone in As You Like It, Edgar in King Lear and more.

Ben has performed locally to Chester each Christmas for the past several years, playing the comic at the Ellesmere Port Pantomime at the Civic Hall. Most notably the character of Wally. This year will be taking on the title role of Jack in Jack & the Beanstalk.

As a keen outdoorsman, not only does Ben have a passion for performing theatre outside, come rain or shine, including in this year’s Murder in the Park performed in one of Storyhouse’s outdoor spaces in Grosvenor Park, Ben is a keen regular runner and chose to run the Manchester Half Marathon in one of the days off from our rehearsals.

Finally, Ben is mostly excited about taking on a brand new role for him, the role of ‘Husband’ when he marries his partner Beth next year.

Catrin Griffith Jones is a recent graduate of the Manchester School of Theatre and is delighted to be working with Storyhouse. Her credits include Peter Pan and The Wind in the Willows (Storyhouse), Generator Company (ThickSkin), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Henry V (Manchester School of Theatre). She feels that theatre should be accessible to all and has a particular love of Shakespeare.  

Alongside acting, Catrin is also a singer, dancer, and puppeteer. 

Francesca Lanza is an actor from Chester and a recent graduate of the MA Acting course at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Before training professionally, she completed an undergraduate degree in English and Spanish at the University of Bristol, including a year living and working in Ávila, Spain, where she taught English to primary school children. Immersing herself in another culture deepened her appreciation for language, communication and the stories that connect people across different backgrounds. 

Francesca’s love of acting is rooted in a lifelong passion for literature and storytelling. She is fascinated by the relationship between language and performance. Whether working with contemporary writing or classical plays, she is drawn to emotionally driven performances that celebrate the richness of language and the complexity of relationships. 

Alongside acting, Francesca is a Trinity College London Grade 8 singer (Distinction) and has over ten years of experience performing with the Abbey Gate College Choir, touring throughout the UK and Europe. She enjoys playing the guitar and continues to explore opportunities to combine music with performance. She also enjoys playing the omnichord, embracing its distinctive retro sound and quirky charm. 

Outside of the arts, Francesca is an enthusiastic hiker who loves exploring the landscapes of North Wales, the Peak District, and beyond. She finds spending time outdoors both grounding and creatively inspiring. Now based in Manchester, she is excited to begin the next chapter of her career and continue telling stories across stage and screen.