William Shakespeare

Aldwych Theatre, London

Director:Andrew Visnevski

The setting consists of a diagonal screen of rotating concrete planes. These transform the scenes: they are open for the Egyptian marketplace, become a columned arcade for the Roman Forum, close to form solid walls with doors for interior spaces and are seen end on as piers for a harbour dock to which Pompey's ship is moored.

The contemporary costumes reflect the sultry nature of Egyptian life, in oranges and reds, versus the austerity of Rome, in whites and purples.

Each of the leaders is represented by a different colour and symbol on their flags and uniforms: purple square for Caesar, yellow triangle for Lepidus, red circle for Antony and green star for Pompey. The soldiers are dressed in combat trousers and camouflage jackets and barrets corresponding to the colours of their leaders. The hats and jackets allow the actors to make quick changes between characters.

Bloody
battle