'Julius Caesar’ by William Shakespeare
18 July 2012I was back at the RSC Open Stages National Showcase at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday to see ‘Julius Caesar’ performed by Rainbow Factory from Belfast. This thrilling, fast-moving production set the play on the Shankill Road in the early 2000′s. The crowd scenes featured track-suited teenage mothers with pushchairs and youths in hoodies clutching cans of lager, in front of sectarian murals. This was a Senate of folding plastic chairs which became protest placards, brandished by an angry mob. The young cast brought an urgency and energy to the text, though the lines were often difficult to hear because of their rapid speed of delivery. There was no difficulty following the plot, however, which was clearly communicated. It was an exciting and extremely violent depiction of shifting allegiances and the power of the mob, with knives, guns and balaclavas to the fore. I don’t have a cast list to properly credit the actors but Mark Anthony was, for me, the pick of the performances – an assured actor with the confidence to slow things down occasionally amid the frantic action. And Cassius, Brutus and Julius Caesar were also very strong – believable characters who were compelling to watch.
Labels: Drama, RSCOpenStages, Theatre
posted by Robin Simpson @ 8:17 pm
2 Comments:
I too found the accents and the fast pace 'challenging' as they say, but Mark Anthony and Brutus were excellently clear. The violence was so realistic too - argh!
Above all the energy was impressive.
i think i speak for the cast in thanking you's so much for those wonderful comments. its great to get some feedback and see where we can inprove for the future.
thank you again,
Marc Antony.
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