Julius Caesar Review and Events for the week of 20th August

Mhoro peoples,

As this weekend has been all about the Zimbos,I feel I should say hello in Shona! From Oliver 'Tuku' Mtukudzi at the O2 to ZIMFest on Saturday and Sunday Proud to be African Clothing was happy to see that the Proud to be Zimbabwean T shirts were as popular as the Proud to be Kenyan and Proud to be African ones. However I wanted to write about the new RSC all black Julius Caesar so I’ll start with that

Julius Caesar with an all black Cast

Last week I went to see the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) new production of Julius Caser with an all black cast. An interesting experience and one that I would recommend. As we took our seats we were serenaded by an African band (known as the Vibes of March!! Honestly if I start a band I’m nicking that name!!) complete with kora, drums, djembe and so on playing us in to the action. 

This being my first Julius Caesar I didn’t have a frame of reference beyond a few of the more famous quotes but the synopsis for this production is that Rome is a new African country and Julius Caesar is the conquering military leader returned to the accolades of an adoring public. One cannot really review a Shakespeare play as the plots are not exactly secrets so I’ll focus mainly on the production and the acting.

Jeffery Kissoon as Julius Caesar stood out as someone enjoying his role despite the few scenes Shakespeare actually gave the character the play was named after! The majority of the play involved Brutus (Paterson Joseph) as he succumbed to the wiles of the plotters principally the envious Cassius (Cyril Nri) and then wrestled with his loyalty to friend, state and so on. The second act followed the assassination of Julius Caser revolved around Marc Antony played by Ray Fearon, who gave me my moment of the play by uttering one of my favourite Shakespearean quote “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!” in the context of an African marketplace, another nice touch.

For those who like me escaped English literature in school to suffer the depredations of the laboratory this was a great experience taking me back to my youth in Nigeria when all black plays were not necessarily something to be remarked upon, but in the UK to see an all black performance put on by a company as notable as the RSC playing to a packed audience was quite touching.

Standout performances were  Paterson Joseph who(despite the unsuccessful attempt at an African accent) took Brutus and cleverly portrayed a man at war with his loyalties, conscience and beliefs, .

Cyril Nri and Paterson Joseph

The symbolism of the ragtag soldiers with AK 47s and the debates about the dangers of sycophancy in a new democracy are of course relevant to an audience of Africans, but the age old story of the price of success and the price of envy as well as the struggle between duty and personal loyalty.

So if you want to see Shakespeare in a different setting for some and a familiar setting for a few others, head down to the Noel Coward Theatre, St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4AU. Tickets are priced between £15.00 and £49.50 and can be obtained here until 15^th September 

Cast and Crew

Jeffery Kissoon - Julius Caesar Adjoa Andoh - Portia Segun Akingbola - Trebonius Mark Ebulue - Artemidorus         Ray Fearon - Mark Antony Ricky Fearon - Cicero/Lucilius Andrew French - Decius Brutus Marcus Griffiths - Marullus/Octavius' Servant/Pindarus Ivanno Jeremiah - Octavius         Paterson Joseph – Brutus Samantha Lawson - Caesar's Servant

Simon Manyonda - Lucius Joseph Mydell - Casca Cyril Nri - Cassius Ann Ogbomo - Calpurnia Theo Ogundipe - Soothsayer Jude Owusu - Cinna the Poet Mark Theodore- Metellus Cimber/Messala Ewart James Walters - Caius Ligarius/Lepidus Chinna Wodu - Cinna the Conspirator

Director - Gregory Doran Designer - Michael Vale                Lighting - Vince Herbert Music - Akintayo Akinbode          Sound - Jonathan Ruddick Movement - Diane Alison-Mitchell Fights - Kev McCurdy Associate Director - Gbolahan Obisesan

And Now To Events

Monday 20^th August

At 7pm ADAD presents ADAD Open Stage at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8JT. This is a thought provoking dance performance from diaspora African choreographers Madeleine ‘Madee’ Ngomba-Mwanza, David Blake and Pauline Blackwood who share dance works which examine personal journeys, cultural links and the deportation. This is a two day event so tickets are £5.00 (£3.00 concs) or £8.00 (£5.00) for both days.

Tuesday 21^st August

At 7pm ADAD presents the second day of  ADAD Open Stage at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8JT. Yassmin V Foster and Anna Watkins present works based on women’s struggles, human movement and space. Tickets are £5.00 (£3.00 concs) or £8.00 (£5.00) for both days.

Between 1.00pm and 5.00pm the Caricom Diaspora Conference will take place at the Cinema, Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 7JR hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner H.E. Garvin Nicholas. The event will consist of talks, networking presentations and ends up with a Whiskey Master Class. The event is FREE but register here

Between 6.00pm and 9.00pm at Punch and Juicy Liquid Foods, Unit 8 Queens Parade, Willesden Lane, NW2 5HT, there is a Talk of the Times reasoning session entitles Highlighting August Within Global African History, led by TAOBQ co-ordinator Kwaku this FREE event shows there is much more to August, Book here or RSVP by email 

Friday 24^th August

At 7.00pm Shaka Zulu Restaurant, The Stables Market, Camden, NW1 8AB presents an exclusive reception dinner with South African music sensations Zahara and Zakes Bantwini. This is a preview of their performances ath the Africa Unplugged Music Festival at Wembley Arena. Zahara is a multi platinum album singer songwriter in the Afrosoul mode of Asa and India Arie, she sings in English and Xhosa. Zakes Bantwini is known as Africa’s James Brown (so a slight contrast in styles here!), a showman with electrifying sounds and dance moves. There will be a selection of canapés and drinks available as well as the option of ordering from the Restaurant Menu and bar. For information and tickets email or call 07809592465, 07999070707,07445231492. Tickets are £10.00 (earlybird) and £15.00 (advanced) from here

Saturday 25^th August

At 12.00am Kenya shows what it can do in London with Kenyafest at Lea Valley Playing Fields, Chingford, London, E4 8AQ. Celebrating the best of Kenya in the UK it includes traditional Kenyan and UK children’s games such as Kati, Rounders, egg and spoon and bouncy castles. Live music will be provided by the Afrika Jambo Band with African Dancers with additional live music from upcoming Kenyan artists such as Lynette, J Star, Mimi and Ajabu. Alongside arts and crafts, food and drink stalls, there will be Proud to be African Clothing so bring your wallets, outdoor clothes, blankets, outdoor kangas, foldable chairs and more importantly yourselves, children, husbands, wives, friends, enemies, colleagues and random people off the street!!! The event ends at 9.00pm, tickets for adults are £10.00, children 10-17 years £5.00 and FREE for under 5’s call for more information, check here or please call: 07886815454; 07928124019.

From 8.00pm to 11.00pm there is a Special Cultural Reception, in honour of the visiting artists from Carniriv who will be participating in the Notting Hill Carnival all the way from Rivers State, Nigeria at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JT. A fascinating event that will be a nice touch of homesickness for people like me! RSVP by emailing or calling 0794 4597 530 /0755 3549 599

Sunday 26^th August

If you like African comedy then you need to be at The Lighthouse Hall, 262 - 274 Camberwell Rd SE5 0DL at 4.00pm for the London leg of the Crack Ya Ribs Comedy Concert by Julius Awgu D Genius. Going on till 11.00pm, there is music and dance by MI Abaga, Dprince, Fuse ODG, DJ Abass and DJ Osa Jatt plus including Comedy by Seyi Law, Senator, Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson, Wale Gate, Akpos, MC Shakara, Guru, Funny Bone, Julius Agwu and may surprise acts. Tickets are £25.00 for Downstairs seating, £35.00 for Upstairs seating, £50.00 VIP and £100.00 limited VVIP. Tickets are obtainable from here, here, here and here!

and , 

Ticket hotlines are Sekinah: 07714167322, Dwise1: 07432832598, Naijaunion: 07531772745

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At 12 midday till 6.00pm, there will be an African Showcase Market as part of the Jamaica@50 celebration at Leyton Cricket Ground, High Road Leyton, E10 5PW. There will be cultural and artistic events from 5 participating African countries, with stalls selling African food, drinks, arts, artifacts and other cultural items. There will also be a drum and headwrap workshop. More details here. 

Sara Zvakanaka (goodbye in Shona) till next week and the Paralympics!