Julius Caesar − Learning Pack
Contents
About This Pack...... 1
Background Information...... 2
Teaching Information ...... 3
Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis...... 5
Find Out More ...... 13
1 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack
About
This learning pack supports the Bridge Theatre’s production of Julius Caesar, directed by Nicholas Hytner, which opened on 30th January 2018 in London.
Our packs are designed to support viewing the recording on the National Theatre Collection. This pack provides links to the UK school curriculum and other productions in the Collection. It also has a plot synopsis with timecodes to allow you to jump to specific sections of the play.
1 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack
Background Information
Recording Date – 22nd March, 2018 Location – Bridge Theatre, London Age Recommendation – 12+
Cast
Casca ...... Adjoa Andoh Brutus ...... Ben Whishaw Caesar ...... David Calder Mark Anthony ...... David Morrissey Lucius/Cinna the Poet and as cast...... Fred Fergus Metellus Cimber and as cast ...... Hannah Stokely Octavius and as cast ...... Kit Young Ensemble and as cast ...... Leaphia Darko Decius Brutus and as cast ...... Leila Farzad Caius Ligarius ...... Mark Penfold Cassius ...... Michelle Fairley Cinna ...... Nick Sampson Marullus/Artemidorus and as cast ...... Rosie Ede Flavius/Popilius Lena and as cast ...... Sid Sagar Calpurnia...... Wendy Kweh Ensemble and as cast ...... Zachary Hart
Creative Team Director ...... Nicholas Hytner Lighting Designer ...... Bruno Poet Production Designer ...... Bunny Christie Costume Designer ...... Christina Cunningham Composer ...... Nick Powell Sound Designer ...... Paul Arditti
2 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack Teaching Information
This production is particularly suitable for:
• English Literature students who are studying the play for A 'Level. • Drama and theatre students who are studying the play and the theme of conflict within it. • Anyone with an interest in contemporary staging of Shakespeare’s plays. • Anyone with an interest in innovative staging and promenade productions.
In particular you might like to explore:
• The director’s decision to relocate the action of the play to the 21st century and how the staging of the play helps to make it relevant to a contemporary audience. • The director’s decision to cast a woman in the role of Cassius. • The set, costume, lighting and sound design and how they contribute to creating the world of the play.
There are a number of other productions in the National Theatre Collection that relate to this one, which you and your students may wish to explore alongside it.
3 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack Teaching Information
Other productions by William Shakespeare
Production Date Director
Coriolanus 2014 Josie Rourke
Othello 2013 Nicholas Hytner
Hamlet 2010 Nicholas Hytner
King Lear 2011 Michael Grandage
Macbeth (Schools) 2017 Justin Audibert
Romeo and Juliet (Schools) 2017 Bijan Sheibani
The Winter’s Tale (Schools) 2018 Justin Audibert
Twelfth Night 2017 Simon Godwin
Other productions featuring members of the same creative team
Production Date Artist
Othello 2013 Nicholas Hytner − Director
London Assurance 2010 Nicholas Hytner − Director
One Man, Two Guvnors 2011 Nicholas Hytner − Director
Hamlet 2018 Nicholas Hytner − Director Othello 2013 Nick Powell – Composer
The Cherry Orchard 2011 Bunny Christie – Designer Frankenstein 2011 Bruno Poet – Lighting Designer Treasure Island 2015 Bruno Poet – Lighting Designer
4 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Differences to Shakespeare’s original *
Nicholas Hytner’s production condenses Shakespeare’s play to 2 hours with no interval. Many of the scenes are trimmed and various characters cut or merged into others.
• Act II, Scene iv is cut. • Act II, Scenes ii and iii are merged into one. • Act V, Scene iv is cut. • Cierco and Publius are referenced but have no lines. • Titinus, Messala, Pindarus, Cato, Dardanius, Strato, Clitus, Lucilius and Volumnius are cut. Their lines are distributed amongst the other characters loyal to their relevant parties. • The characters of Cassius, Casca and Decius are women.
*Using Arden Shakespeare Third Series edition of Julius Caesar
Act I, Scene i: A rock band play to a crowd, celebrating the return of Julius Caesar to Rome. Two tribunes, Flavius and Marullus, disperse the crowd, rebuking them for disloyalty in welcoming the conqueror of another Roman, Pompey, whom they had also celebrated in the streets. Flavius orders the removal of the decorations that have been placed on public statues.
Act I, Scene ii (0:04:52): At the feast of Lupercalia, Caesar triumphantly returns to a cheering crowd. A member of the crowd warns Caesar to beware the ides (the 15th day) of March; Caesar ignores him and leads his entourage to the festival.
Cassius and Brutus remain behind and speak of Caesar's ambition to rule alone, a violation of the Roman political tradition that all aristocrats share power equally. Cassius says that Rome looks to Brutus for leadership in this crisis, and they hear cheering from the festival, which,
5 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
they fear, means that Caesar is going to be acclaimed king. Cassius observes resentfully that she does not wish to be ruled by a man no better than herself, as further cheers erupt.
Caesar's group returns; Caesar declares he distrusts Cassius and then exits. Brutus and Cassius interrogate Casca and hear an account of the festival from her. Caesar was offered the crown three times, Casca reports, and he refused it each time, though only with regret. Casca and Brutus leave, and Cassius soliloquises that Brutus is easy to manipulate, and she plans to further influence him with letters purporting to be from angry citizens who seek action against Caesar.
Act I, Scene iii (0:23:35): Cassius recruits Casca for a plot against Caesar, naming a meeting place for later that night. Another conspirator, Cinna, arrives. Cassius directs him to leave messages in places where Brutus will receive them.
Act II, Scene i (0:29:08): Flavius is beaten in the streets by men in suits.
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Brutus, having been awake all night, decides at dawn that Caesar's ambition makes it necessary to kill him. He receives one of Cassius' anonymous letters urging him to protect Rome, and he resolves to lead the conspirators in assassinating Caesar. Cassius and other plotters arrive, and they lay their plans. Brutus insists that Antony not be killed, arguing that they must not seem bloodthirsty and that Antony will be helpless without Caesar. Decius volunteers to ensure that Caesar will attend the day's Senate session, where the assassination is to take place. The conspirators depart. Brutus’ wife Portia appears and asks why he is disturbed. He promises to tell her later, as a last conspirator, Ligarius, arrives, and Portia leaves. Ligarius agrees to follow Brutus in any exploit, and they leave together for the Senate.
Act II, Scene ii (0:44:40): Calphurnia tells Caesar of the many appalling omens that have been seen and insists that he stay home rather than go to the Senate. He refuses, insisting that one must face death if it comes, but then he decides to humour Calphurnia and stay at home, pleading illness. However, Decius arrives and claims that the omens are favourable. Caesar changes his mind again.
Act II, Scene iii (0:52:01): Artemidorus reads aloud a message naming the conspirators and warning Caesar against them. He vows to present it to Caesar at the Senate.
Act III, Scene i (0:52:53): At the Senate, Caesar encounters the same civilian who warns that the ides of March is not yet over. Artemidorus attempts to deliver his message, but Caesar rejects him and proceeds with Senate business. Trebonius draws Antony away from the meeting. Other conspirators present Caesar with a fake petition pleading on behalf of Cimber's banished brother. Caesar's continued refusal is the signal: the conspirators draw guns and shoot him with Brutus delivering the final, fatal shot. The assassins, led by Brutus, bathe their hands in Caesar's blood, declaring their devotion to political liberty.
7 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
Antony arrives and volunteers to die with Caesar if the conspirators wish to kill him, but Brutus insists on their alliance, and he grants Antony's request to speak at Caesar's funeral against Cassius’ wishes. The conspirators depart, and Antony soliloquizes about his intention to avenge Caesar's death by launching a civil war. News comes of Octavius' approach to Rome.
Act III, Scene ii (1:10:38): Brutus addresses the citizens, assuring them that the assassination was necessary in order to preserve the Republic. They applaud him, proposing that he be crowned himself. Antony arrives with Caesar's body. Brutus leaves, and Antony addresses the citizens, praising Caesar while seeming to acknowledge the honour of the assassins. Gradually, Antony’s rhetoric generates a mood of hostility towards the conspirators. He introduces Caesar's will, which designates a generous provision to be distributed among the people. This sparks a riotous response to the assassination and the citizens rage into the streets, intending to burn the houses of Brutus and the others. Antony exults. Learning of Octavius' presence in Rome, he goes to join him; as he
8 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
leaves he hears that Brutus and Cassius have fled the city.
Act III, Scene iii (1:25:33): A mob of Plebeians encounters the poet Cinna and kills him, mistaking him for the conspirator with the same name.
Act IV, Scene i (1:26:54): Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus decide who must be executed to protect their new power in Rome, including members of their own families. Antony and Octavius begin to plan a campaign against Brutus and Cassius, who have raised an army.
Civil war breaks out.
Act IV, Scenes ii-iii (1:29:02): Cassius charges that Brutus has ignored her arguments and punished an officer for taking bribes. She insists that they cannot be overstrict in a time of crisis, and Brutus remarks that Cassius herself is reputed to be corrupt and accuses her of withholding funds. The infuriated Cassius, declaring that she never expected such insults from her comrade, suggests that Brutus kill her. Eventually the
9 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
two shake hands in reconciliation. Brutus then tells Cassius that he has been short-tempered in part because he has just learned of Portia's suicide due to her fear of the immense army that Octavius and Antony are sending against her husband. Decius and Trebonius arrive and Brutus proposes marching on Phillipi, where their enemies have camped. Cassius argues that they should stay where they are and let Antony and Octavius use up their energy marching, but Brutus insists that his plan is superior and Cassius gives in. Brutus then retires for the night, and the others leave. Lucius sings to Brutus and goes to sleep.
The Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus, announces that they shall meet again at Philippi, and disappears. Cassius charges that Brutus has ignored her arguments and punished an officer for taking bribes. She insists that they cannot be overstrict in a time of crisis, and Brutus remarks that Cassius herself is reputed to be corrupt and accuses her of withholding funds. The infuriated Cassius, declaring that she never expected such insults from her comrade, suggests that Brutus kill her. Eventually the two shake hands in reconciliation. Brutus then tells Cassius that he has been short-tempered in part because he has just learned of Portia's suicide due to her fear of the immense army that Octavius and Antony are sending against her husband. Decius and Trebonius arrive and Brutus proposes marching on Phillipi, where their enemies have camped. Cassius argues that they should stay where they are and let Antony and Octavius use up their energy marching, but Brutus insists that his plan is superior and Cassius gives in. Brutus then retires for the night, and the others leave. Lucius sings to Brutus and goes to sleep. The Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus, announces that they shall meet again at Philippi, and disappears.
Act V, Scene i (1:46:17): There is further conflict. Octavius insists on commanding the more important right wing, despite Antony's seniority. Brutus, Cassius, and their army appear, and the opposing
10 Julius Caesar − Learning Pack Adaptation Details & Plot Synopsis
commanders parley. They quickly begin to exchange insults, and Octavius and Antony leave. Brutus and Cassius tell each other that they will commit suicide rather than be captured.
Act V, Scene ii (1:50:47): Brutus orders an attack on Octavius' forces, which he can see weakening.
Act V, Scene iii (1:51:09): Trebonius and Cassius, hard-pressed by the enemy, see that Brutus has launched his attack too soon and left them at a disadvantage. Metellus arrives with the news that troops are approaching their headquarters. Cassius sends Trebonius to investigate and tells Metellus to watch from a nearby hill. Metellus reports that Trebonius is captured. Cassius, believing that her own capture is imminent, shoots herself. Metellus flees, as Trebonius returns safely with Decius to announce that Brutus has defeated Octavius. They find Cassius' body and realise what has happened; Treboius kills himself. Decius leaves to tell Brutus, who appears and mourns his comrades. He announces that they shall launch another attack before nightfall.
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Act V, Scene v (1:55:35): Brutus, defeated, asks several companions to help him commit suicide, but they refuse. As enemy troops approach, he convinces Lucius to shoot him. Antony and Octavius appear, triumphant, and find Brutus' body. They praise him as the ‘the noblest Roman of them all’ because he was the only conspirator who acted, in his mind, for the good of Rome. Octavius waves to rapturous applause and ceremony, in similar pomp to Caesar’s.
The End
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Find out more
Watch
Nicholas Hytner introduces the play
Julius Caesar | in conversation with cast and creatives
Shakespeare at the NT: The 21st Century
Shakespeare at the NT: Writer for Today
Performing Shakespeare
Listen
Nicholas Hytner in discussion with Abigail Rokinson-Woodall discussing Shakespeare in the twenty-first century.
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The National Theatre’s digital exhibitions on Google Arts & Culture, including Shakespeare at the National Theatre.
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