SUIT YOURSELF MAGAZINE ONLINE | Theatre Review

Theatre Review - Julius Caesar

Showing from Thursday 12th February until Saturday 21st March 2009 @ Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Shakespeare At The Tobacco Factory, this Spring sees a double bill of roman romps by our favourite bard at the Tobacco Factory Theatre starting with the brutal political tragedy, Julius Caesar: A group of senators seeing themselves as the last guardians of the Roman Republic become concerned at Julius Caesar’s public popularity as he returns victorious from battle. The senators fear he could be crowned King of Rome, a position that holds far too much responsibly, influence power for one man and it could mean the downfall of the Empire and so they conspire to murder him; “not out of hate for Caesar, but of love for Rome.”

Can such radical and brutal action be justified? How do men of intelligence and honour live with the consequences? How will the people of Rome react?

It’s difficult to think of a better place to see this play staged than in the Tobacco Factory, a space so intimate you can’t help but get swept along in the action. Whether it’s the fiery mob scenes at Caesar’s funeral, the swift military encounters or the brutal murder scene itself in all its bloody glory, being sat full circle around such a small stage, this performance picks you up at the beginning, carries you along and spits you out at the end, flustered but extremely satisfied.

There is superb acting across the board too, which really makes the performance that much more absorbing and memorable. Leo Wringer’s Brutus and Simon Armstrong’s Caesar are suitable stern and defiant but it is Alun Raglan’s Mark Antony (Caesar’s right hand man who is fiercely upset and disturbed at the actions of the senate) that truly impresses. After Mark Antony learns of Caesar’s death he is torn up with desperate anger and his fierce monologue literally left me quivering and covered in goose-pimples. It also made me realise that this is just as much Mark Antonio’s story as it is Caesar’s and Brutus’.