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Julius Caesar at St Leonard's Church
Review in the Camden New Journal by Amah-Rose Abrams
The Tower Theatre Company has long had a reputation for putting on entertaining and accomplished
productions in and around Islington and Camden. Their latest is a timely production of
Julius Caesar at St Leonard’s Church in Shoreditch.
Just as the powerplay in central government took an historic turn, the actors took to the stage to act out Shakespeare’s classic tale of power and
corruption.
In the setting of this historical building, legendary Elizabethan actor James Burbidge was laid to rest. Now, in keeping with the church’s theatrical
traditions, the Tower Theatre Company take on this great play – and more than do it justice.
The chorus, a key part of this production, lead the drama, building the tension around the plot to overthrow the emperor of Rome in
an attempt to bring democracy to the empire.
But power corrupts, and we see how guilt and desperation for power can erase any ideals held by those caught up in it. The key
speech of the play, Mark Anthony’s "Friends, Romans, Countrymen... " is indeed the highlight of the production and brought to mind the sometimes
frenzied nature of the relationship between the British media and the public.
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