The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced controversial casting for its production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, which will be on tour with northern performances at Bradford Alhambra (May 2-6); Blackpool Grand (May 16-20); York Theatre Royal (June 13-17) and The Lowry, Salford (June 20-24).
This rethought production of the political thriller is directed by Atri Banerjee and features Thalissa Teixeira as Brutus and Kelly Gough in her RSC debut as Cassius – the leaders who plot to kill Caesar.
Banerjee said: “I’m delighted audiences will get to see Thalissa Teixeira and Kelly Gough as Brutus and Cassius.
"Along with several other roles, we have reimagined these characters to tell a story about power today: who holds it, who wields it – and who gets to challenge it. By thinking across gender, race, class and disability, among others, we’re inviting audience members to think of their own place within the status quo and what might be at stake for each of us within it."
Thalissa Teixeira was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow in 2021. On TV she was Gemma in Trigonometry (BBC Two) and Madge Shelton in Anne Boleyn (Channel 5), as well as appearing in The Musketeers (BBC), Too Close (ITV) and Two Weeks To Live (Sky).
Kelly Gough's credits include TV series Marcella, Call the Midwife, Broadchurch, Vera, Casualty and Law & Order.
The production will also feature a Community Chorus. There will be a different group of people playing the Chorus in each venue, with each group made up of community leaders, workers and volunteers from the local area. The production marks the beginning of a three-year programme to expand the reach of the company’s national touring footprint. Prior to the tour, Julius Caesar is at the RSC's Stratford home March 18-April 8.
More info and tickets here