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Julius Caesar

By: William Shakespeare
Narrated by: Gerard Murphy, Stella Gonet, Nicholas Farrell, Full Cast
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Summary

In this BBC full-cast production, Julius Caesar is triumphant after his victory over the sons of Pompey. But as bad omens and weather plague Rome, even his most loyal friends are starting to see the signs....

Political intrigue and fierce battle rage in this tense and dynamic production in which a country is torn apart under the legacy of Julius Caesar, 'the colossus'.

Gerard Murphy, Stella Gonet, Samantha Bond and Nicholas Farrell star in Shakespeare's turbulent Roman history.

BBC radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly-formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard.

In this acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the modern day.

©1999 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)1999 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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What listeners say about Julius Caesar

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good acting bad setting

This performance was ruined by setting it in modern times. If it had been a visual performance it may have worked but for a radio performance it was pointless. It didn’t make enough of a difference for
It to be worthwhile but was just annoying when the modern sound effects could be heard.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

why the 1930s?

What posessed the BBC to update the setting? They decided to set this in 1930s Rome- which I suppose is as sensible as setting Twelth Night on the riviera- but that works and this doesn't- we get jeep doors slamming, machine gun fire and (worst of all) microphone hiss in Mark Antony's speech, but still the shakespeare text is so saturated with the swish of togas, flints for lighting candles etc. that the ancient world seeps through- like blood from Caesar's corpse.

In short, nothing was gained by specifying the period so exactly- and the great beauty of radio is that settings can be kept nebulous.

But once I had gritted my teeth I found I quite enjoyed it. Superb acting- almost unbearably so- Mark Anotony is so horribly oily.

A pity, though, that the casting doesn't match with the BBC 'Antony and Cleopatra.'

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5 people found this helpful