Julius Caesar

Shakespeare's great Roman tragedy opens in 44 BC when Julius Caesar, returned from a successful campaign, seems likely to assume kingship of Rome. Fearful of this ambition, Cassius prevails upon Brutus to join him and others in a conspiracy against Caesar. Ignoring warnings of disaster, Caesar is slain in the Senate House. At the funeral Mark Antony's eloquent speech of praise arouses the Roman people to such fury that the conspirators are forced to flee. Two years later, defeated by Antony at Philippi, Brutus and Cassius take their own lives. At the core of the tragedy is Shakespeare's masterly analysis of the characters and motives of the protagonists and how their consequent actions must lead to disaster. Some of the most famous actors of the British stage take part in this classic performance, including Sir Ralph Richardson as Caesar, Anthony Quayle as Brutus and Sir John Mills as Cassius.