CAESAR
23 July – 7 August 2021.
Roundhouse Theatre, Kelvin Grove
With Shakespeare’s five acts adapted by five fierce, female-identifying and non-binary playwrights – Claire Christian, Jean Tong, Megan Wilding, Merlynn Tong and Zoey Dawson – CAESAR is a provocative contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s political thriller Julius Caesar.
This adaptation follows a self-absorbed politician and the men conspiring against him with a gender-diverse cast of Queensland actors, including Chenoa Deemal, Billy Fogarty, Bryan Probets, Will Carseldine and Giema Contini, each playing a variety of characters.
Director Sanja Simić said this unique adaption is the first of its kind to have five writers collaborate on a new iteration of Shakespeare’s tragedy. “This is the first mainstage production in La Boite’s history to enlist five playwrights to respond to a classic text, and while there might be a singular directorial vision, the work itself will be a tapestry of voices, which we hope will deliver a rich, sharp and playful text,” Ms Simić said. “I want audiences to be entertained and challenged in equal measure – walking out of the theatre and having an active conversation about what they’ve seen, regardless of whether they loved or hated it, is step one.”
La Boite Artist Company actor and cast member Giema Contini is excited to bring more stories that represent voices that are historically overlooked or unheard to Australian stages. “It’s incredibly special to bring this masculine narrative to life through the voices of female and non-binary playwrights, who are not often represented across professional stages,” Ms Contini said. “This is going to be a powerful work with many twists and turns for audiences, and I’m humbled to be part of such a brilliant group of artists.”
In the first mainstage show of their professional career, Artist Company actor and cast member Billy Fogarty is thrilled to join CAESAR. “I’m so fortunate and privileged to be joining La Boite’s creative team so early in my career,” they said. “I want to tell stories that matter, and I think audiences will be surprised about the passion, intelligence and humour that comes from this fresh take.”
For ticketing and further information, visit the La Boite website
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