Julius Caesar and Me : Exploring Shakespeare's African Play
Author(s): Paterson Joseph
'Julius Caesar is, simply, Shakespeare's African play' John Kani
In 2012, actor Paterson Joseph played the role of Brutus in the Royal Shakespeare Company's acclaimed production of Julius Caesar - Gregory Doran's last play before becoming Artistic Director for the RSC. It is a play, Joseph is quick to acknowledge, that is widely misunderstood - even dreaded - when it comes to study and performance.
Alongside offering fascinating insights into Julius Caesar and Shakespeare's writing, Joseph serves up details of the rehearsal process; his key collaborations during an eclectic career; as well as his experience of working with a majority black cast. He considers the positioning of ethnic minority actors in Shakespeare productions in general, and female actors tackling so seemingly masculine a play in particular. Audience reactions are also investigated by Joseph, citing numerous conversations he has had with psychologists, counsellors and neurologists on the subject of what happens between performer and spectator.
For Paterson Joseph, his experience of playing Brutus in Julius Caesar with the RSC was a defining point in his career, and a transformative experience. For any actor or practitioner working on Shakespeare - or for any reader interested in his plays - this is a fascinating and informative read, which unlocks so much about making and understanding theatre from the inside.
Review(s):
“Joseph provides an insightful examination of the process of theatrical creation, in so doing giving the reader an inside look at one actor’s approach to how to construct a performance. More than that, this memoir chronicles a widely successful effort, by a historically white theater company, to expand its consideration of Shakespeare’s plays and engage with a demographic that is underrepresented in the theater. Written in friendly, accessible prose, the book is suitable—in part or in whole—both for aficionados of the theater and for those studying theater and performance. The book will make an excellent resource for discussion of Julius Caesar as a living piece of theater. Summing Up: Recommended.” - CHOICE
ISBN: 9781350011229