Alameda-based theatre company, The Foodbank Players, will begin performances of their next play, Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, at the Healing Garden this week. The Players’ performances of the classic tale will take place Sept. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. The Foodbank Players will also have a special performance on the Bruns Stage at the Cal Shakes Theater in Orinda on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.

Romeo & Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It is among Shakespeare’s most popular plays. Shakespeare’s play is based on an Italian novella by Matteo Bandello, which was also adapted by Arthur Brooke in his narrative poem “The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet.” Romeo & Juliet was likely first performed in 1596, although it may have been written a few years earlier. The earliest known publication of the play is in 1597.

The title characters in the Food Bank Players’ productions of Romeo & Juliet will be played by Julian Hensley and Anika Rose, respectively. Hensley was a theatre actor during his time at Las Positas College. Rose has been acting consistently for the last two years, participating in 12 Angry Jurors, She Kills Monsters, and the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Alameda High School.

Founded two years ago by retired teacher Gene Kahane, The Foodbank Players is a group of actors and artists and community members who do theater, primarily Shakespeare, for one single important purpose- to raise funds for the Alameda Food Bank. The plays are free, but audience members are encouraged to make donations to the food bank either online or by dropping money into the orange buckets carried about after the show by members of the company. Thus far the Players have produced five shows and raised more than $16,000 for the food bank.

This is the fifth play by The Foodbank Players. Previously, the company performed Sylvia, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, and double showing of The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus & Thisbe and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The Healing Garden is located at 1435 Webster St. The play is directed by Kahane.