Earlier this week, I got to catch newbie production company Proud Haddock’s first ever show, a sold out performance of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at Saatchi Gallery (the only time a play has ever been staged there). That was a one off. However, from early November the play will have a couple of weeks’ run at Chelsea Theatre about a mile or so farther down King’s Road. If the Chelsea Theatre run goes anything like the Saatchi Gallery premiere, audiences are in for a treat.
I really enjoyed the scaled back and modernised staging of this classic tale of duplicity and betrayal. With inspiration drawn from TV shows such as House of Cards, Homeland, and The Thick of It, Proud Haddock’s rendition invites the audience to draw parallels between today’s political situations and The Bard’s original work.
Some of the acting came across as a teensy bit hackneyed, but performances by Ed Sheridan (Mark Antony), William Findley (Cassius), and Tracey Pickup (Portia) were delightful. Vyvyan Almond’s versatility playing a number of roles and was fun to watch as well.
Julius Caesar runs from 3 to 15 November at Chelsea Theatre, 7 World’s End Place, King’s Road, SW10 0DR. Find out more at proudhaddock.com and chelseatheatre.org.uk.
