The Royal Shakespeare Company's new production of Julius Caesar will tour across the north next year, with visits to Bradford Alhambra (May 2-6); Blackpool Grand (May 16-20); York Theatre Royal (June 13-17) and The Lowry, Salford (June 20-24).
Shakespeare’s fast-paced political thriller will be directed by rising star Atri Banerjee, in his RSC directorial debut.
Banerjee was listed in The Stage 25 as one to watch in 2022, and previously won the Best Director trophy at The Stage Debut Awards in 2019. His much-admired production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie is just closing at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre.
Caesar is a divisive leader who holds awesome power. Concerned he poses a threat to democracy, revolutionaries take the violent decision to murder him - but they have no plan for what comes next, and as the world spins out of control, chaos, horror and superstition rush to fill the void.
RSC acting artistic director Erica Whyman said: “As the RSC embarks on a new chapter, with a determination to look at ourselves and the world through Shakespeare’s plays, all of our creative activity in 2023 will address questions of power. Who has it? Who doesn’t? How does it change a human being? When does it corrupt, and how might it disrupt and liberate?
The production will feature a Community Leaders Chorus of six women at each performance, recruited from the local community and drawn from teachers, support workers, campaigners, church leaders, volunteers and other influential women.
A local musical director will also be recruited to work with the group and professional RSC practitioners.