THEATRE REVIEWS

How do you like your Shakespeare, modern or traditional? John Godber, the director, has given us a version in chain store suits and RAF uniforms for his adaptation of Julius Caesar. What you have to ask yourself is do the words match the dress? Experimentation is the spice of modern day theatre, sometimes it works sometimes it does not. So what of this play set against Pip Leckenby's greys and blacks, where the senate house has a round table and a place behind which to sit when not delivering speeches. These speeches lack nothing of their original vigour, and are very relevant to modern day happenings.

All the main players are there, Caesar (Dicken Ashworth), Octavius, Cicero, Decius (Gregg Hobbs), Brutus (Rob Hudson) Portia, Calphurnia (Jackie Lye), Mark Antony (Barry McCormack) and Cassius (Rory MacGregor) with the actors giving their all to their character, with an outstanding performance given by Rory MacGregor as Cassius. You see the behind the scenes plotting and the deed done to supposedly change the course of destiny, but no one benefits in the end, time marches on with little regard to those who think they can change it.

The words will make you think and the actors will give you pleasure with this latest offering of a playwright who saw things as they were and knew that they would be relevant to the future. Does the the size of the audience to a Shakespeare play correlate to an area's schools educational results? Putting this play on is a well justified risk by John Godber for it is a nice production which will satisfy those with a modern taste for Shakespeare. © BA

“Julius Caesar” is in Hull from the 21st October to the 13th November, 2004. car parking charge £1.