NEWSFLASH
JULIUS CAESAR ASSASSINATED! Government forces have clashed with rebels loyal to the tyrant and the country looks to be descending into civil war.
A modern style headline, one which can be applied throughout history. Shakespeare's play is as relevant now as ever, and this adaptation from the Lace Market Youth Theatre has a modern setting - history repeats itself.
CAST
Julius Caesar
Finn Doherty
Calphurnia
Tilda Poynter-Symonds
Trebonius / Octavius
Rianna Feghali
Mark Antony
Eleanor Watson
Cassius
Adelaide Marshall
Brutus
James Green
Portia
Poppy King
Lucius
Emilia Pettit
Caska
Sophie Owen
Cicero / Pindarus / Lepidus
Roisin Kelly
Publius / Lucillius
Robert Gadsby
Titinius
Emily Scothern
Ligarius / Clitus
Peter Daly
Decius Brutus
Andrew Mapperley
Metellus Cimber / Cato
Sam Howitt
Cinna / Varrus / Dardanius
Emily Armstrong
Servants / Messenger
Mary Kirwin
Flavius / Ensemble
George Collier
Murellus / Ensemble
Gareth Ellis
Soothsayer / Messala
Nick Ford
Artemidorus / Cinna (Poet)
Jess Gale
Cobbler / Ensemble
Liz Rieley
Claudio / Volumnius / Ensemble
Georgia Feghali
Popillius / Ensemble
Gabriel McGee
Ensemble
Hal Stevens
Ensemble
Lois Stevens
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Julius Caesar at the Lace Market Theatre, Nottingham: Review
This Lace Market Theatre youth production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is noteworthy in a number of respects. It's done on an aggressively contemporary set in modern dress, with sound effects to match; it has a cast of no less than twenty-seven; and a majority of the roles are taken by females.
Most importantly though, it's an outstanding evening's theatre. You exit the place feeling enriched.
The text is handled remarkably well by the whole cast. Articulation throughout is first-rate; anyone listening out for examples of yoof-speak – rapid mumbling, and turning straight statements into questions – will go home disappointed. And there's no soap-style acting to be had.
Adelaide Marshall delivers a confident performance as Cassius, particularly when she's persuading Brutus to get in on the conspiracy. The reconciliation scene after their fall-out is authentically moving. Eleanor Watson's Mark Antony is especially effective in that great oration over the body of Caesar.
In the taxing part of Brutus, the honourable man torn between loyalty to friend and loyalty to country, James Green does a remarkable job. And Finn Doherty is nicely imperious as Caesar, the populist would-be dictator.
In relatively smaller parts, Sophie Owen, as a professorial Caska, with her deft hand gestures, is subtly terrific; and Andrew Mapperley, as the wily and oleaginous Decius Brutus in a snappy suit, and Tilda Poynter-Symonds, as Calphurnia, the wife of Caesar, do accomplished work.
The crowd scenes are superb, especially when, as frequently happens, that crowd is cynically whipped up to become a mindless mob. It's great ensemble work.
Besides being fun, the sound effects, storm and battle, add a lot to the production.
This is undoubtedly the best show Roger Watson has directed for the LMT's Youth Theatre. Get a ticket if any are still to be had.
Read the original article here.
"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare
Lace Market Youth Theatre
Although Shakespeare titled the tragedy "Julius Caesar", the play really centres around Brutus and the conflicting demands on honour, friendship and patriotism. Casear only appears in the second act as a ghost to Brutus, in the same way as Macbeth did in that Scottish play.
This is the youth section of the Lace Market Theatre and they really embraced the poetry of Shakespeare and made it sound as if it was their second language; they looked so comfortable delivering the Bard's script. I often feel that there's just not quite enough animation in some of the actors I've seen perform Shakespeare, because the drama in the work lends itself wonderfully to animated behaviour. Not so here as I thought it was spot on. Obviously director Roger Watson has worked long and hard with his cast to get the fine line just about perfect.
As you walk into the auditorium, the stage is sparse; just a couple of multi-raised platforms and a bit of graffiti with an archway with barbed wire, designed by Roger Watson. This created a modern feel which was carried through with the contemporary costumes, This worked really well because of the younger cast. The energy and youthfulness of the cast made, what is an exciting play anyway, into a charged, and even more exciting piece of theatre.
It's a large cast, 26 in all which gives a realistic feel to the crowd scenes, making such an impact from the start as they storm through the theatre to the stage, immediately getting your attention from the very start. Another exciting piece of direction.
The lighting plays a big part in the scene setting of the play and Kerry Newcombe is responsible for the design of the evocative moods created and the exciting thunder storm effects. It shows what an integral part of this play the lighting is by the amount of people in the lighting team, Charlie Bailey, Simon Carter, Rosina Reading, Jon Watson and the multi talents of Roger Watson again.
Caesar was played by Finn Doherty and he brought an air of command to the show when in character, looking the part of the Roman military man. A really solid and confident performance.
Brutus, plated by James Green, and the real star of the show (a little in the way that Judas is the star of the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar") is, again, perfectly cast. you can see the mental struggle between his love of Caesar and his patriotism which then spills out into his speeches. Once more an incredibly confident and exciting performer to watch.
There were so many wonderful performances and performers in this cast that I can't mention you all by name, and I think from the rapturous applause at the end of the show, they all knew they'd done an excellent job. they don't need me to tell them just how good they all are. A brilliant cast, an exciting story with multi-murders, what more could you want?
Many people, especially younger people, can be scared off of Shakespeare because of the style he writes in, but this is so easy to follow and is such a great story, performed so well that i can easily say that this is a play that everyone will enjoy and understand. Go on, lend an ear to it!
Read the original article here.
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