Who would have thought that murder, betrayal and intrigue could fill a room with so much joy?Rating
Excellent
Who would have thought that murder, betrayal and intrigue could fill a room with so much joy? But that is exactly what happens at the Omnibus Theatre with Julius Caesar Remixed, the success of which lies in so much more than just the fantastic delivery of the play.
Darren Raymond, Artistic Director of Intermission Youth, a charity that provides opportunities for young people to engage with theatre through Shakespeare, has here devised a fabulous reimagining of Julius Caesar. Putting the play within a play, he offers a contemporary lens on its politics and violent disarray, and questions the inevitability of the story’s outcome.
A class of teenagers prepare to perform Shakespeare’s famous history, each taking on the name of the character they are to portray. The status quo becomes radically unsettled when new classmate Malik arrives from a rival school which was involved in the death of a well-liked pupil called Jerome. Tensions rise as Malik is unexpectedly cast as Caesar and then campaigns to become head prefect, and division within the class leads to suspicion, mistrust and ultimately tragedy. Julius Caesar Remixed ties together ancient and modern worlds, exploring loyalty and betrayal, and the dangers of peer pressure, reminding us that right across time the poor choices we make can lead to disaster if we don’t recognise the pattern and change our ways.
This is such a cleverly written piece, with the storylines of school life and of Julius Caesar beautifully and gradually intermingling as the narrative progresses, until reaching an exciting climax where catastrophe strikes. As the students echo the behaviour of their characters, the Shakespearean verse also leaks into their modern language, neatly adjoining the distinct London slang. It’s an empowering reminder that Shakespeare’s erudite work belongs to all of us and was never intended to be elite; that his words are commonly used in all our vocabulary, and that its presence today should be a normality for anyone – even kids from a secondary school in London.
The young cast are simply superb, bringing huge energy to the production, despite this being the first time on stage for a number of them. Victor A. Daniels as Elijah/Brutus plays a blinder, completely nailing the composure of Brutus in forging forward along a seemingly logical but deeply flawed path. Gabrielle Assuman plays Zoe/Cassius with palpable passion and impressive coherence, as she misdirects her peers in order to mask her own secrets. Jamal Abdul as Malik/Caesar offers a fabulously nuanced delivery, ranging from the height of arrogance to convincing vulnerability and insecurity. And there’s some real upstaging from the charismatic Elijah Akintayo who just steals all the spotlight with his magnetic, eloquent performance as Farell/Mark Anthony.
Director Stephanie Badaru does a magnificent job of channelling the cast’s dynamism with tight direction, using the entire theatre space effectively. Each character is uniquely identifiable, given their own space on stage, yet they all blend into a slick ensemble that moves fluidly from scene to scene, keeping the momentum insistent but regulated. And this speaks beautifully to Intermission’s intentions of empowering individuals while building a family to pass that legacy of strength along to.
Julius Caesar Remixed is a hugely enjoyable production that reimagines the inevitable as mutable; that uses an historical tragedy to create genuine hope for the future. The young company visibly enjoy their impeccable work and should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved here. I’m really excited to see where these young people take their talents next.
Writer: Darren Raymond
Director: Stephanie Badaru
Associate Director: Federay Holmes
Producer: Lilli Lehmann
Production Manager: Jasmin Meara Wall
Set & Costume Designer: Ruth Badila
Sound Designer: Luka Burton
Sound Design Mentor: Pierre Flasse
Lighting Designer: Rajiv Pattani
Projection Designer: Cheng Keng
Company Stage Manager: Sofia Zaragoza
Costume/Wardrobe Supervisor: Esmé Madeleine Dann
Julius Caesar Remixed plays at the Omnibus Theatre until Saturday 5 December.
