Julius Caesar and Me by Paterson Joseph

Julius Caesar and Me by 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.

This is a production of great pace, panache and originality and one leaves the theatre convinced that with Doran in command, the Royal Shakespeare Company will be in hands that are at once safe and adventurousDaily Telegraph on "Julius Caesar" This is a lively, eloquent and exceptionally well-written and well-informed book. I read it in three sittings. Russell Jackson, University of Birmingham, Department of Drama and Theatre Arts I found the proposed book to be very compelling and engaging, and I think it could appeal to a wide range of readers: RSC fans, drama students, and Shakespeareans. I really appreciated how honest and revealing PJ's thoughts were about the complicated process of staging the RSC's African Julius Caesar. He truly provides an insider's view, and I was especially pleased that he addressed the issue of casting and race in frank and complex terms. Ayanna Thompson, George Washington University

Paterson Joseph is an acclaimed British actor who has performed major roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, including the title role in Othello and the leads in The Royal Hunt of the Sun and The Emperor Jones. He has also worked extensively in television and in film. In 2015, he wrote and performed his one-man play Sancho: An Act of Remembrance on tour.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781350011182
ISBN 10	1350011185
Title	Julius Caesar and Me
Author	Paterson Joseph
Series	Theatre Makers
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Year published	2018-04-05
Number of pages	176
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.