8. Example: THE OPENING OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S ‘ROMEO AND JULIET’ HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ‘A MARVEL OF ECONOMY, DESCRIPTIVE POWER AND EXCITEMENT’. THE FIRST ACT COMPLETELY CAPTURES THE AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION THROUGH ROUSING ACTION, A WIDE VARIETY OF CONTRASTING CHARACTERS, THOUGHT PROVOKING THEMES AND POWERFUL LANGUAGE. IN THIS ESSAY I WILL EXPLORE WHY THE OPENING ACT HAS SUCH DRAMATIC IMPORTANCE, AND WILL CONSIDER WAYS TO ADAPT MOMENTS FROM THE PLAY TO MAXIMISE THEIR IMPACT.