Shakespeare… stuffy, archaic and the source of your Literature exam nightmares? You’d change your mind if you’ve ever caught any good performances of his work, and the Shakespeare in the Park series over the years has made his plays a totally enjoyable experience.
This year the Singapore Repertory Theatre has brought the political thriller Julius Caesar into modern times with a production that is accessible and relevant to a contemporary audience, complete with multimedia on a stunning high-tech stage set designed by Richard Kent. Inspired by the G20 and N.A.T.O. summits, it takes you out of the Roman ruins and transports you into the world of modern-day international relations and global current affairs. It has even made a couple of gender switches to reflect the current political scenario in the world where many strong female leaders feature.
Aside from the setting, you enjoy the original essense of the play, delivered by a cast that includes Jo Kukathas as Caesar, Ghafir Akbar as Brutus, Julie Wee as Cassius, Daniel Jenkins as Casca and Thomas Pang as Mark Anthony. As director Guy Unsworth puts it: Shakespeare’s best quality is his understanding of human beings and their feelings. It is therefore no surprise that his characters are always relatable even when translated into other contexts.
We definitely recommend the Premium Picnic experience. As Friends of Audi we enjoyed food and beverage at a hospitality pavilion, picnic mats, plush seats and a picnic basket complete with sandwiches, salad, snacks and wine (with proper wine glasses and stands) to make the evening a most memorable one. Hey, we even had ice cream brought to us during the intermission. How cool is that?
Shakespeare in the Park – Julius Caesar runs from 2 to 27 May 2018 at Fort Canning Park. Tickets via www.srt.com.sg/juliuscaesar
