Julius Caesar

Overview

It's a tale we've heard a thousand times. Not the plot itself, I mean the 'fresh, relevant interpretation' line that theatres throw in to justify the presence of a classic in their midst. In this case, though, the line seems to have a bit of weight to it.

Take one leader: once the revolutionary hero, now obsessed with more tangible gains. His greed breeds discontent, once loyal men become rebellious and therefore corruption, cunning and conspiracies are rife. The situation is a power keg and all it takes is a single spark to set it off. Sounds eerily familiar, no?

Add to the mix the supernatural interventions that Shakespeare has invested his play with, and the result is a complex delve into contemporary politics that would put most journalists to shame. Julius Caesar looks to be both a savvy political query and an admirable theatrical achievement in its own right — certainly not something to be sniffed at.

Image: courtesy of New Theatre