One of the UK’s most celebrated theatre companies is returning with a heart-stopping classic.

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Julius Caesar is wowing audiences around the country on its latest tour, including three nights at a Kent theatre.

The production will be at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury from Thursday, April 20 to Saturday, April 22.

You can book tickets online here or by calling 01227 787787.

Shakespeare’s 16th century tragedy is about a divisive political leader whose brutal assisination sparks a civil war and the battle for power.

This political thriller is directed by Atri Banerjee, who won Best Director at 2019’s Stage Debut Awards and was named as ‘one to watch’ by The Stage 25 last year.

“I wanted to make a production that felt like it could speak about today,” says the rising directorial star. “I’m more interested in creating a production that makes an audience feel the conspirators were both totally right to kill Julius Caesar, and totally wrong to kill Julius Caesar at the same time.”

The play has 48 characters, two of which are female, and the RSC has been creative with its casting to tackle the gender imbalance for a modern production.

“It’s about half and half, men and women, and one non-binary actor,” explains Atri. “I have cast Brutus and Cassius as women. The production will make people think about their reactions to power when it is held by people who aren’t part of the white male patriarchy that we have all been living in and all still live in.”

All of the performances will also feature British Sign Language, which has been integrated as part of the show.

The interpreter will be in costume and will interact with the characters on stage.

The play also features a Community Chorus made up of six people from areas across Kent including Whitstable, Canterbury, Dover and Thanet.

There will also be a chance for the audience to speak to the director after the show on Friday, April 21.

There's no need to book to join the free post-show Q&A, audiences are simply asked to stay in their seats once the curtain goes down and wait for Atri Banerjee to take to the stage.