The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has today announced casting for its forthcoming production of Shakespeare’s political thriller, Julius Caesar, running between 18 March – 8 April 2023 in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, before a nine date tour of England visiting Canterbury, Truro, Bradford, Newcastle upon Tyne, Blackpool, Nottingham, Norwich, York and Salford between 20 April – 24 June.
This visceral new production is directed by Atri Banerjee, and will feature Thalissa Teixeira as Brutus and Kelly Gough as Cassius, in the roles of the leaders who plot to kill Caesar.
The full cast is: Jamal Ajala (Lucius), Mercedes Assad (Marullus/Artemidorus), Annabel Baldwin (Soothsayer), Nigel Barrett (Julius Caesar), Matt Ray Brown (Cicero), Matthew Bulgo (Casca), Ella Dacres (Octavius Caesar), Joshua Dunn (Cinna The Poet/Popilius/Carpenter), Katie Erich (Caius Ligarius/Cobbler), Niamh Finlay (Pindarus), Kelly Gough (Cassius), Gina Isaac (Decius Brutus), Robert Jackson (Flavius/Cinna The Conspirator), Tom Kanji (Metellus Cimber/Lepidus), Nadi Kemp-Sayfi (Portia), Jimena Larraguivel (Calpurnia), Pedro Leandro (Trebonius), William Robinson (Mark Antony) and Thalissa Teixeira (Brutus).
After its run in Stratford-upon-Avon Julius Caesar will visit nine venues across the country including RSC Partner Theatres. This marks the beginning of an ambitious three-year programme to expand the reach of the Company’s national touring footprint. The focus is on co-creation with the communities the RSC serves at the heart of its theatre-making, and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
The production will also feature a Community Chorus. There will be a different group of people playing the Chorus in each venue the production visits, with each group made up of community leaders, workers and volunteers from the local area. This production of Julius Caesar explores questions such as gender in leadership and power, and the Chorus will provide a commentary on the politics of the play from the perspective of identities that have been marginalised, either at different points in history or in our world today. Recruitment is currently taking place, and the RSC anticipates that those participating will include teachers, support workers, campaigners and faith leaders.
Joining Atri on the creative team are: Rosanna Vize (Set Designer and Co-Costume Designer), Tomás Palmer (Co-Costume Designer), Lee Curran (Lighting), Jasmin Kent Rodgman (Music), Claire Windsor (Sound), Jennifer Jackson (Movement), Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown (Fights), Alison Bomber (Voice and Text) and Matthew Dewsbury CDG (Casting).
UK Tour:
Thursday 20 – Saturday 22 April, The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
Tuesday 25 April – Saturday 29 April, Hall for Cornwall, Truro
Tuesday 2 May – Saturday 6 May, Alhambra, Bradford
Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 May, Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 May, Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 May, Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 June, Theatre Royal, Norwich
Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 June, York Theatre Royal
Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 June, The Lowry, Salford
