Sunderland Echo

Et tu Sunderland? Caesar’s coming

Renowned theatre group is set to bring a fiery taste of the Bard to city’s newest venue with a classic tragedy

- BY TONY GILLAN

Audiences will be lending their ears and eyes when a renowned theatre company brings the Bard to Sunderland later this month. Shakespear­e’s Globe will be performing Julius Caesar at three North East venues including The Fire Station Auditorium on Sunday, June 26, at 6pm.

The performanc­es of one of the greatest playwright’s best known and popular tragedies are part of a nationwide Globe on Tour series.

Julius Caesar is understood to be the first of Shakespear­e’s play to be performed at The Globe Theatre in London when it first opened in 1599.

The play is a largely true story about a battle for power in ancient Rome, with Julius Caesar pitched against former allies Brutus and Cassius.

The Ides of March proves to be a key date in Caesar’s calendar, with the most unkindest cut of all coming his way.

Diane Page, director of the play, said: “I’m so excited to bring my production of Julius Caesar straight from the Globe

Theatre in London to tour across the UK.

“These past few years have revealed more than ever how betrayal, division and cunning rhetoric are not just traits belonging to ancient Rome.”

Helen Green is head of performanc­e at Sunderland Culture, which runs The Fire Station.

She said: “Julius Caesar is a political thriller as well as an epic tragedy and in many ways feels very modern – it’s a brutal tale of ambition, incursion and revolution.

"This is a real opportunit­y for Sunderland and North East audiences to see some of the country’s best Shakespear­ean performers.”

The acclaimed production features depictions of war, self-harm and suicide, as well as profanity and offensive language. It also contains violence, stage blood and weapons including guns and knives and under-14s must be accompanie­d by an adult.

Tickets for The Fire Station performanc­e are priced from £11. For more informatio­n, or to book, go to www.thefiresta­tion.org.uk. A variety of performanc­es is coming up at The Fire Station, including The Futurehead­s – Acoustic and A Cappella on June 11 and The Damned on June 16.

‘A brutal tale of

revolution’

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 ?? ?? The performanc­e at the Fire Station in on Sunday, June 26.
The performanc­e at the Fire Station in on Sunday, June 26.
 ?? ?? The Fire Station Auditorium.
The Fire Station Auditorium.

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