Bell Shakespeare is opening its 2026 season with a new staging of Julius Caesar, set to arrive at Arts Centre Melbourne from 23 April to 10 May.
Directed by Artistic Director Peter Evans, who also takes on set design, the production reworks Shakespeare’s political drama through a contemporary lens. It follows on from the company’s 2025 production of Coriolanus, shifting focus from the rise of the Roman Republic to its unraveling.
At its centre is the story of Julius Caesar, returning victorious from war and edging closer to absolute power. As he is repeatedly offered the crown, concern grows among those around him. Brutus and Cassius, fearing what his rule could become, set in motion a conspiracy that leads to one of the most famous assassinations in western history.
This version places the action in a world reminiscent of Eastern Europe in the 1990s, drawing parallels between the collapse of old political systems and the instability that follows. The setting brings together elements of Ancient Rome and more recent history, grounding the play’s themes in something recognisable.
The cast brings together a mix of established performers and Bell Shakespeare regulars. Leon Ford takes on Cassius, alongside Brigid Zengeni as Brutus. Mark Leonard Winter makes his company debut as Mark Antony, with Septimus Caton in the title role.
They are joined by Peter Carroll, Jules Billington, Ray Chong Nee, James Lugton, Ava Madon and Ruby Maishman.
The production leans into the tension between ambition, loyalty and power, asking what happens when political systems begin to shift and how quickly control can change hands.
More information and bookings here.
