The year is 1594. William Shakespeare has just written the end of his latest work "Romeo and Juliet" and the ensemble is perfectly ear when he reads the closing sentences.

The only problem is that nobody likes the end. Especially not Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, who wonders what would happen if Julia would break free from the family feud and start living her own life. And to the tones of "... Baby one more time", the story takes a whole new turn when Anne Hathaway holds the walking pen.

Mixing Shakespeare's drama with Max Martin's music can sound like a strange mix. But for screenwriter David West Read, there is a natural connection between the two artists.

- I think there is an interesting parallel between Max Martin and Shakespeare that Max doesn't want me to say, David West Read tells Culture News and laughs:

- Many people do not understand how one can have written so many plays, so many different plays and so many successful plays, and the same goes for Max Martin. Today, Shakespeare is seen as a bit snobbish but he created plays for everyone in the same way that Max tries to create music for everyone.

Want to highlight the songs in new light

In the show, old meets new. It applies to everything from scenography and costume to how the music has been arranged. For the creative team behind the show, it has been important to try to surprise the audience.

There is hardly anything that has changed in the song lyrics but by using the songs in new situations, in new arrangements with songs of unexpected characters, they want to challenge the audience's expectations of the meaning of the songs and make them see the hits in new light. But the show also questions Skakespeare's work and brings in new perspectives that touch on feminism, gender roles and societal norms with contemporary glasses.

- We have not only worked with Max but also his wife Jenny and his daughter Doris. They had pretty strong opinions about what they wanted the show to stand for and I think their voices are very much present in the show, says director Luke Sheppard:

- Max also has an exceptional history of working with fantastic female artists who have been incredible collaborators who have had a great influence on his work. So I think it is natural that it is transmitted on stage as well.