The Bard's bloodiest political thriller gets a contemporary makeover.
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned assassination to get the theatrical blood pumping. Bell Shakespeare is kicking off 2026 with a fresh staging of Julius Caesar, bringing Shakespeare’s ultimate tale of political backstabbing to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.
Directed by Artistic Director Peter Evans, who also handles set design, this production serves as a companion piece to the company’s 2025 staging of Coriolanus. Where that show followed the rise of the Roman Republic, this one charts the fall. Think ambition, loyalty, power and what happens when an electorate starts asking for an autocracy.
Julius Caesar
- Arts Centre Melbourne
- 23 April – 10 May 2026
- Find more info here
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The staging transplants ancient Rome to 1990s Eastern Europe, drawing parallels between the political upheaval following the Berlin Wall’s collapse and the treacherous corridors of Roman power. It’s a setting that feels uncomfortably relevant to political systems around the world today.
The ensemble cast brings together some serious talent. Leon Ford (Elvis, Hamlet) takes on Cassius, while Brigid Zengeni (Coriolanus, The Artful Dodger) plays Brutus. Helpmann Award winner Mark Leonard Winter (The Dressmaker, The Newsreader) makes his Bell Shakespeare debut as Mark Antony, with Septimus Caton (Coriolanus, Comedy Of Errors) stepping into the title role as Julius Caesar.
Rounding out the cast are Peter Carroll as Casca, Jules Billington as Portia, Ray Chong Nee as Metellus, James Lugton as Decius, Ava Madon as Calpurnia and Ruby Maishman as Cinna.
The story follows Caesar’s triumphant return from battle, where he’s repeatedly offered the crown. His growing influence sparks fear among the Roman elite, leading Brutus and Cassius to hatch a conspiracy with devastating consequences.
Before arriving in Melbourne, Julius Caesar opens at Sydney Opera House from 7 March – 5 April, then heads to Canberra Theatre Centre from 10 – 18 April.
For more information, head here.
