Ad Lib Theatre are back at Northwood House, and this year they’re heading for the streets of Rome with one of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays: Julius Caesar.

From the team that have brought four sell-out productions – Hamlet, Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew and Ghost Hunting – to Northwood House since 2022 comes this thrilling tale of humanity at its best and worst.

Julius Caesar is victorious! He is popular, generous and well-liked by the commonality, but his rise to power is accelerating, and there are those in the Senate that fear for the future of Rome. For better or worse, they take matters into their own hands and set to plotting what remains one of the most famous assassinations in history.

Home to some of Shakespeare’s most enduring turns of phrase – ‘give up the ghost’, ‘et tu, Bruté?’ , ‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears’ and ‘It was Greek to me!’ among others – the play will be brought to life by a cast of talented local actors who will both entertain and challenge from start to finish with exciting dialogue, fabulous characterisations, and expert stage combat.

Director Simon Lynch says: “Caesar is one of Shakespeare’s best plays. The chance to put this play on, for this company, with these actors was too good to turn down. Once again, it’s the words; it’s the story; it’s the characters that show why Shakespeare was and will always be the greatest playwright of all time. It’s written, as they all were, for the Everyman so don’t be put off into believing, falsely, that you must be “this” intellectual to understand. Got a spare two hours, let us show you and let us entertain you.”

As well as many familiar faces from previous Shakespeares, Julius Caesar welcomes some incredibly talented actors to its cast who are new to Ad Lib. Andy Kay who plays Brutus, says: “I am absolutely loving playing the role. Renowned as one of history’s most infamous traitors, Shakespeare paints a very different portrait of Brutus – a stoic, honourable man who sees the principles of his beloved Rome being destroyed before him and so decides to act to save the Republic. He is a fantastic role to play and like all of Shakespeare’s characters, he is not ‘good’ or ‘bad’ but a complicated mixture of the two.  I have absolutely loved the different ways the text can be interpreted and the complex relationships that run throughout Julius Caesar formed of a mix of power, honour, loyalty and love. There is no obvious villain or hero in this play – the audience gets to decide where their loyalties lie.

This is my first time performing with Ad Lib and it has been an amazing experience acting alongside such talented actors who have a true passion for Shakespeare. I can’t wait for the next one.”

Also featuring Patrick Barry as Mark Antony, Nick Grandvoinet as Julius Caesar and Finley Revert as Octavius Caesar, the play was chosen by Emily Scotcher who takes on the role of Cassius. She says: “Julius Caesar has long been one of my favourite plays, and it’s been a joy to be part of such an amazing cast of people bringing it to life. It’s a play that strikes such a gorgeous balance between verse and prose, action sequences and softer scenes, and it really dives into the complexities of being human. You’ll see one character lauded for having a particular characteristic – ambition, for example – but in the next breath you’ll see another character condemned for displaying that same trait. It’s fascinating, exciting, the characters all feel so real and relatable, and whose side you come down on in our version could depend on something as simple as where you choose to sit on the day, whose reactions you see, which gestures you catch, and what your own personal experiences have been of people like the characters you’re watching before you on the stage. I love it.”

So come and see why the cast is so enthralled by the play: there are performances at 6:30pm on Thursday 12th, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th June, plus a 2:30pm performance on Sunday 15th June. Tickets are just £10 for adults and £8 for students, and are available from Northwood House on 01983 293642 or from northwoodhouse.org/events.

The show is open-air for audiences to bring their own chairs, blankets, picnics and drinks, and The Lawn Bar will also be open and serving refreshments on site. If the weather is especially inclement, the show will move inside to the ballroom, so audience members can book in comfort knowing it will go ahead.

So how does power change those it touches? Is any one person truly loyal to another? Who are the real heroes and villains?

…Whose side are you on?

PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES:

Thursday 12th June / Friday 13th June / Saturday 14th June – 6:30pm (gates open at 6pm)

Sunday 15th June – 2:30pm (gates open at 2pm)

RUNNING TIME: Act 1 – 65 minutes approx. / Interval – 20 minutes /Act 2 – 55 minutes approx.

TICKETS: £10 Adults / £8 Students