This first act was the result of the meeting in Tõstamaa (6th - 12th of November 2007). It was written by students from all participating schools. You could find these basic ideas in every single play.

First act -

First scene

(In the school corridor: Jennifer is late for school,is looking at her watch. Tom comes down the corridor, looking for his classroom.)

Jennifer: Oh, I´m running late.

(Jennifer and Tom bump into each other)

Tom: Sorry.

Jennifer: What are you doing?

Tom: ---

(Jennifer collects her books etc. from the floor, Jennifer doesn´t hear Tom´s apologies)

Jennifer: Now look what you´ve done!

Tom (very quietly): I´m so sorry. (Jennifer doesn´t hear)

Jennifer (looks at her hands and says to herself): Oh, my nails!

(Jennifer goes away and the boy follows her with his eyes)

Second scene

(Friends of Jennifer are in the drama classroom, Jennifer is late)

(Friends are chatting and laughing, Jennifer enters)

Friend 1: Hi! Where‘ve you been?

Jennifer: Hi! Guess what happened to me just now. I was running ´cause I was late and some stupid boy just bumped into me. I’ve never seen that boy here before. I think that he´s new at our school. He was soooo rude. He didn´t even say sorry. How stupid!

(Friends: oh... really... etc., then chatting and diva-like-acting continues)

(Drama teacher comes in)

Teacher: Good morning class! Everybody sit down, please! (=national starting routines will be changed in each country´s way...) Today we´re going to speak about ... (students are chatting on) Are you listening? We´re talking about William Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet. What do you know about the play?

Jennifer: There is that young couple in Verona.

Teacher: Good. What else?

Friend 1: They killed themselves because of love.:

Jennifer: How stupid. I’d never do that.

Friend 3 (bossy girl): That’s typical of you.

Friend 2 (blond and not-that-clever): Yes, because you aren’t romantic at all. But boys aren’t worth dying for them anyway. (Girls giggle)

(Somebody knocks at the door, Tom comes in, Jennifer recognizes him as the boy from the corridor)

Jennifer: (aside to her friends) Oh, that´s the boy I was talking about.

Friend 1: Oh, he´s the stupid one.

Friend 2: But he´s goodlooking.

Friend1 and Jennifer (in a chorus): Noooo!

Jennifer: Are you joking?

Friend 3: No, he´s not that cute..

Teacher: Right, now. Will you please listen to me. This is Tom, he´s a new student in our class. I hope that you´ll get on well!

Friend 2 (loud): I guess that´s our Romeo.

(Girls are laughing)

Teacher (earnestly): That´s a good idea, indeed! (to Tom:) Right, we‘re talking about Romeo and Juliet. Will you please take a seat there next to Jennifer?

(Tom tries to sit next to Jennifer, who puts her books on his chair )

Teacher (to Jennifer): Will you please take your books away and let Tom sit down! 

Jennifer (obeys but seems disappointed, says to friends): Moooove!

(Friends laugh...)

Teacher: So, who will be Juliet then? ... (looks around, focusses on Jennifer) Jennifer, you will be our Juliet!

Friends: Oh, poor you, ha ha.

Jennifer: Oh, please, Ma’am, do I really have to..?

(School bell rings)

Third scene

(In the school cafe, Tom is doing his homework, Jennifer comes in, looks around, sees Tom, walks slowly up to him)

Jennifer (unfriendly and reluctant): Hello! Teacher told us to rehearse our parts in the play. Maybe we should do it now? So, do you have time now? (looking around, not wanting her friends to see them)

Tom: Yes, of course. (surprised, shy)

Jennifer: Then, let´s start from these lines and make it quick so we´ll get over with it.

Tom (starts to read as Romeo = balcony scene, speaking sooo nicely, looking into Jennifer´s eyes): O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art - As glorious to this night being o’er my head - As is a winged messenger of heaven - Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes - Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him - When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds - And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Jennifer (reading Juliet´s lines, feeling like Juliet while reading!!!): O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? - Deny thy father and refuse thy name; - Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, - And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

(She drops her textbook, both are leaning down, faces close to each other, eyecontact)

Tom (friendly): Let me help you.

Jennifer (surprised, starts to see Tom differently): Oh, thanks. That’s nice of you. (smiles, continues reading Juliet): How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? - The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, - And the place death, considering who thou art, - If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

(Tom reaches out and takes Jennifer’s hand in his, they continue hand in hand. The text is very romantic, so is the atmosphere)

Tom (as Romeo): With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls; - for stony limits cannot hold love out, - And what love can do that dares love attempt; - Therefore thy kinsmen are not let to me.

(Friends enter the café, unnoticed by Tom and Jennifer, who continue reading)

Friend 2: Let´s have a cup of coffee.

Friend 3: Good idea!

Friend 2: Where’s Jennifer? I haven´t seen her for a while.

(Friends seeing Tom and Jennifer holding hands, break the magical moment)

Friend 1: Oh, there’s Jennifer. And Tom!!

Friends (in a chorus): What - are - you - doing?

(Jennifer and Tom lat go of their hands and move away from each other)

Jennifer: We...we...

Tom: Oh, I got to go now. (rises and ...)