The French musical Romeo & Juliette, starring Alexis Loizon and Clemence Illiaquer, is now being staged in Beijing. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

Dumesnil says that, given the significance of youth in the original play, the musical chose the lead pair from among actors and actresses who had chemistry onstage, even if they were performing together for the first time during the auditions.

The present cast features Alexis Loizon, 27, as Romeo and Clemence Illiaquer, 19, as Juliet. Both are French and they joined the production in 2016.

The cast also has 32 modern dancers, with classical training.

"First love is beautiful, innocent and passionate. The youthfulness and chemistry of the protagonists make you believe that love transcends everything else in your life," says Dumesnil, who has been working with Presgurvic since 2006.

Earlier this year, Loizon, who has performed in movies and TV series, played Gaston in the French musical version of the Disney film Beauty and the Beast.

He says some of the cast members of the musical Romeo & Juliette are friends in real life so it's easy for them to interpret their roles convincingly.

Presgurvic credits his lead stars with being inspirational on set and with helping to create a realistic and tender relationship between the protagonists.

The musical has been translated into 10 languages, including English, Spanish and Japanese. Dumesnil says a Chinese version has not been planned yet.

If you go

7:30 pm, through Dec 18. Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, 9 Tianqiao South Street, Xicheng district, Beijing. 400-635-3355.