RSC completes casting for Julius Caesar with Harriet Walter

Exclusive: An earlier version of the production was a stand-out moment for Shakespeare productions this century, and Julius Caesar, directed by Phyllida Lloyd is now making a comeback later this year – while also touring to schools and venues.

The production is a revival of Lloyd’s acclaimed Donmar Warehouse staging, first seen in 2012 as part of an all-female Shakespeare trilogy. It follows a group of women in prison who stage Julius Caesar, exploring themes of freedom and justice through Shakespeare’s text.

The Royal Shakespeare Company and KPPL Productions have announced now confirmed casting: a number of original company members will return including Jackie Clune as Julius Caesar, Leah Harvey as Mark Antony, Jennifer Joseph as Trebonius, Jenny Jules as Cassius and Carolina Valdés as Casca.

They are joined by new cast members Kosar Ali as Calpurnia, Metellus Cimber and Pindarus, Shona Babayemi as Cinna the Conspirator, Darcy Dixon as Lucius, Shalisha James-Davis as Portia and Octavius, and Siân Stephens as the Soothsayer.

They join the previously announced Harriet Walter, who leads the company as Brutus.

The production opens at Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Peterborough on 21 September before touring to Treviglas Academy in Cornwall, Dixons Cottingley Academy in Bradford, Bluecoat Beechdale Academy in Nottingham and St Mary’s Catholic Academy in Blackpool. It will conclude with a public run at the Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon from 5 to 28 November.

As part of the tour, up to 20 young creatives from each partner school will take part in a residency programme exploring the play’s themes, culminating in a Young Creatives Festival at the Other Place on 21 November.

The production also forms part of the RSC’s Building Partnerships programme, marking 20 years of long-term collaborations with schools and theatres across England.

Alongside performances, each school will host workshops, post-show discussions and careers opportunities, including backstage shadowing placements for young people.

The production also renews Lloyd and KPPL Productions’ collaboration with criminal justice associate artist Rachel Frank and women from HMP New Hall. Working with the prison over three months, participants will develop creative responses to Julius Caesar, which will be shared through the tour’s education programme and during the Stratford run. Members of the cast will work directly with the prison drama group throughout rehearsals, with the full company spending two days at HMP New Hall before the tour opens.

Lloyd said the production brings together “three communities” – the cast, women at HMP New Hall and young people across England – with the aim of inspiring “unheard voices to ring out and inspire change”.

Joining Lloyd on the creative team are set and costume designer Bunny Christie, lighting designer Zeynep Kepekli, original sound designer Tom Gibbons, sound designer Pete Malkin, original movement director Ann Yee, movement director Carolina Valdés, fight director Kate Waters, casting director Matthew Dewsbury, with original casting by Anne McNulty and Vicky Richardson, voice and text director Barbara Houseman, associate director Jordana Golbourn, associate set designer Reiltin Hart and associate costume designer Deborah Andrews.