THE RSC & KPPL PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE FURTHER CASTING FOR JULIUS CAESAR

JOINING HARRIET WALTER AS BRUTUS, ORIGINAL CAST MEMBERS JACKIE CLUNE, LEAH HARVEY, JENNIFER JOSEPH, JENNY JULES AND CAROLINA VALDÉS ANNOUNCED ALONGSIDE KOSAR ALI, SHONA BABAYEMI, DARCY DIXON, SHALISHA JAMES-DAVIS AND SIÂN STEPHENS

TOURING TO SCHOOLS IN PETERBOROUGH, NEWQUAY, BRADFORD, NOTTINGHAM & BLACKPOOL FROM 21 SEPTEMBER

PARTNERSHIP WITH HMP NEW HALL TO CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN IN PRISON, SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION THROUGH THEATRE

DOWNLOAD FULL CAST IMAGE HERE

DOWNLOAD CAST HEADSHOTS HERE

The RSC, in partnership with KPPL Productions, today announce further casting for the 2026 touring production of Julius Caesar directed by Phyllida Lloyd, a revitalisation of the Donmar Warehouse production that began its journey in 2012.

The announcement will see original cast members Jackie Clune (Julius Caesar), Leah Harvey (Mark Antony), Jennifer Joseph (Trebonius), Jenny Jules (Cassius) and Carolina Valdés (Casca) return to the production alongside new cast members Kosar Ali (Calpurnia/Metellus Cimber/Pindarus), Shona Babayemi (Cinna the Conspirator), Darcy Dixon (Lucius), Shalisha James-Davis (Portia/Octavius) and Siân Stephens (Soothsayer).

They join the previously announced Harriet Walter as Brutus in this landmark ‘First Encounters with Shakespeare’ production, touring to RSC partner schools across England this Autumn and playing in The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon from 5 – 28 November.

Opening at Ormiston Bushfield Academy, Peterborough from 21 September, Julius Caesar will go on to visit Treviglas Academy in Cornwall, Dixons Cottingley Academy in Bradford, Bluecoat Beechdale Academy in Nottingham and St Mary’s Catholic Academy in Blackpool as part of a new residency model in which up to 20 young creatives from each of the five schools on tour will be given the opportunity to explore the themes and ideas of the play within their own communities and to share their creative responses as part of a one-day Young Creatives Festival in November, at The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The production is part of the RSC’s Building Partnerships programme: a series of special events and performances taking place this Autumn to celebrate two decades of the RSC working in long-term partnerships with schools and theatres across the country.

A supporting programme of co-curated workshops, post-show discussions, ‘In Conversation’ events and sharing opportunities will run alongside the production in each school. In each of the schools there will be opportunities for up to four young people to shadow members of the touring production team, offering a hands-on insight into what a career in a backstage/technical role on tour feels like.

The new touring production also sees Phyllida Lloyd and KPPL Productions renew its collaboration with Criminal Justice Associate Artist Rachel Frank and women from HMP New Hall, who will work alongside the RSC to ensure that the production’s setting of a women’s prison is rooted in authenticity, and real-world knowledge is integrated into the schools’ workshops and post-show conversations taking place in communities across England from September-November.

This latest partnership with HMP New Hall builds upon Rachel’s thirteen years of sustained trauma informed & educational arts practice at HMP New Hall which utilises theatre as a tool for personal and social change for women in prison. KPPL's work with Rachel over the last eight years advocates for the value of arts access for women in prison.

The HMP New Hall drama group created for this project will work with Rachel and HMP New Hall staff over a three-month period, during which time they will be introduced to the play of Julius Caesar and develop their own creative response pieces which will be shared as part of the schools’ workshops and with audiences at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Members of the Julius Caesar company will visit the drama group in person through rehearsals, ensuring a dialogue and sharing of skills into the HMP New Hall drama sessions, and taking the women’s reflections on the play back into the rehearsal room in London.

The full Julius Caesar company will spend two days working with the drama group at HMP New Hall ahead of the opening of the production in Peterborough in September.

Director Phyllida Lloyd said: “This co-production between the RSC and KPPL Productions brings together three communities – a remarkable cast of actors led by Dame Harriet Walter, a group of women in HMP New Hall and young people in schools across the country. 

Our mission is to use our production of Julius Caesar to inspire unheard voices to ring out and inspire change – each of us students of the other.”

Criminal Justice Associate Rachel Frank said: “Eight years on from my first collaboration with KPPL productions, this important partnership with HMP New Hall and HMP Askham Grange continues to creatively illuminate true stories from marginalised groups of women in the criminal justice system and shine a light on the systemic issues surrounding violence against women and girls in society. Julius Caesar's characters and themes afford women in prison the creative opportunity to explore issues of social justice, power, powerlessness, betrayal and violence in relation to their own lives and communities. Through this process, they learn to speak up and to develop confidence in having a voice and being listened to.  

The learning between prisoner, actor, director, facilitator, prison staff member is a rich and productive experience for all involved and we are delighted to be extending the reach of this work, in conversation with young people and community leaders across England in 2026.” 

First performed at the Donmar Warehouse under Artistic Director Josie Rourke and Executive Director Kate Pakenham as part of a trilogy of all-female Shakespeare plays directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the production follows a group of female prisoners who choose to perform Shakespeare's play to express their preoccupations with freedom and justice.

The original production was famously described by The Observer as “oneofthe most important theatrical eventsofthelast20years” and remains a landmark event in theatre history.  

Joining Director Phyllida Lloyd on the creative team are Set and Costume Designer; Bunny Christie, Lighting Designer; Zeynep Kepekli, Original Sound Designer Tom Gibbons, Sound Designer; Pete Malkin, Original Movement Director; Ann Yee, Movement Director; Carolina Valdés, Fight Director; Kate Waters, Casting Director; Matthew Dewsbury CDG with Original Casting by Anne McNulty and Vicky Richardson, Voice & Text by Barbara Houseman, Associate Director; Jordana Golbourn, Associate Set Designer; Reiltin Hart and Associate Costume Designer; Deborah Andrews.

 

This First Encounters with Shakespeare production of Julius Caesar in co-production with KPPL Productions, is aimed at young people who are often seeing Shakespeare for the first time. These 90-minute, edited versions of Shakespeare’s plays tour to partner schools, theatres and community venues, adapting to play in different spaces in the heart of communities across England.

The production will conclude its run in The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon from Thursday 5 – Saturday 28 November, during which young people from across the tour will come together to share their creative responses to the production, as part of a one-day Young Creatives Festival taking place in The Other Place on Saturday 21 November 2026.

Co-curated by the RSC’s Youth Advisory Board and featuring contributions from the Julius Caesar company, the event will see over 200 young people gather in Stratford for an inspirational programme of workshops, panel discussions, live performance and debates, examining themes of justice, governance, leadership and the power of words to inspire and affect change. 

ENDS

Phyllida Lloyd has had a forty-year career directing theatre, opera and film. Her focus has been to promote equality on and off stage. After an early period in regional theatre she moved to London to direct classical and new work for the National Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse.  She also had an award-winning career as an opera director – La Bohème, Gloriana (also the film) Peter Grimes, Albert Herring, Macbeth, The Carmelites. In 1999 she directed Mamma Mia! – book by Catherine Johnson, which was followed in 2008 by the film. Lloyd’s next film was The Iron Lady (2011) by Abi Morgan, for which Meryl Streep won her third Oscar.  Her latest film Herself by Clare Dunne premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Phyllida’s most recent theatre work includes the ground-breaking, all-female Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – book by Katori Hall and Grenfell: in the words of survivors by Gillian Slovo at the National Theatre and St Ann’s Warehouse. In 2010 she received a CBE for services to drama.

Jackie Clune played the roles of Stefano in The Tempest, Westmorland and Glendower in Henry IV and Julius Caesar in Julius Caesar, as part of the all-female Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy between 2012-2016.

Her other theatre credits include The Meat Kings! (Inc) of Brooklyn Heights (George Turvey, The Park Theatre) Otherland (Ann Yee, The Almeida) Just for One Day (Luke Sheppard, The Old Vic) Grenfell: In the Words of Survivors (Phyllida Lloyd & Anthony Simpson‑Pike, The National Theatre) Rocky Horror Show Tour (Christopher Luscombe, Trafalgar Entertainment) Dr Semmelweis (Tom Morris, Bristol Old Vic) Blank (Maria Aberg, Donmar Warehouse) Emilia (West End) (Nicole Charles, Shakespeare’s Globe / Eleanor Lloyd Productions) Utility (Caitlin McLeod, The Orange Tree Theatre) Fallen Angels (Jessica Swale, Salisbury Playhouse) The Vote (Josie Rourke, Donmar Warehouse), Candide (Matthew White, Menier Chocolate Factory) 9 to 5 (Jeff Calhoun, Ambassador Theatre Group) Mogadishu (Matthew Dunster, Lyric Hammersmith) Mamma Mia (Phyllida Lloyd, Little Star) Billy Elliot (Stephen Daldry, Working Title) Julie Burchill is Away (Jonathan Lloyd, Soho Theatre) and Showstopper (Sarah Frankcom, G & J)

Jackie is perhaps best known to TV viewers for playing Mrs Lamb in the hit BBC series Motherland. Other television credits include: The Couple Next Door (Dries Vos, Eagle Eye Drama) Grace – Series 5 (Jon Jones / Jon East / Nirpal Bhogal / Imogen Murphy, ITV) Towards Zero (Sam Yates, BBC) Mandy (Diane Morgan, BBC) No Escape (Hans Herbots, Paramount+), Marriage (Stefan Golaszewski, BBC) Father Brown (Jo Hallows, BBC) Stephen (Alrick Riley, ITV) Too Close (Sue Tully, AMC+) Ghosts (Tom Kingsley, BBC) Borderline (Matt L. Jones, Littlerock) Three Girls (Philippa Lowthorpe, BBC) The Bill (Olivia Lichtenstein, ITV) Walking the Dead (Robert Bierman, BBC) EastEnders (Various, BBC)

Her film credits include: The Great Escaper (Oliver Parker, Pathé) Jawbone (Thomas Napper, Independent) and Denial (Mick Jackson).

Leah Harvey played the roles of Miranda in The Tempest, Poins and Douglas in Henry IV and Soothsayer in Julius Caesar, as part of the all-female Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy between 2012-2016.

Her other theatre credits include The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs (Hannah Hauer‑King / Iman Quareshi, The Kiln Theatre) Girl in the Machine (Annie Kershaw, Young Vic) As You Like It (Josie Rourke, Soho Place) The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Emma Baggott, Theatre Royal Stratford East) Small Island (Rufus Norris, The National) and Yous Two (Chelsea Walker, Hampstead Theatre).

Her television credits include: A Gentleman in Moscow (Sam Miller, eOne Entertainment for Paramount+) Foundation – Season 1 & 2 (David S. Goyer / Rupert Sanders, Skydance Television for Apple TV+) Search and Destroy (Carrie Brownstein, Annapurna Television for Hulu) Les Misérables (Tom Shankland, Lookout Point for BBC One) and Uncle (Olive Refson, Baby Cow Productions for BBC Three)

Her film credits include: The Scurry (Craig Roberts, Water and Power Productions) Tuesday (Daina O. Pusic, A24) Fighting With My Family (Stephen Merchant, Channel 4 Films) On the Road (Michael Winterbottom, Revolution Films) Dustbin Baby (Juliet May, BBC)

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Jennifer Joseph played the roles of Prison Officer in The Tempest, Sir Walter Blunt / Sheriff in Henry IV and Trebonius in Julius Caesar, as part of the all-female Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy between 2012-2016.

Her other theatre credits include Paradise (National Theatre) Maryland (Royal Court) More Than We Can Bear: The Women’s Centre Workers’ Play (Almeida Theatre / Clean Break) Inside Bitch (Clean Break / Royal Court) and Stepping Out (Frinton Rep).

Her television credits include Top Boy (Netflix) and Riches (ITV / Amazon Studios).

Film credits include: Starred Up (Sigma Films) I Used To Be Famous (Netflix) and Maryland (Century Films)

Jennifer is an alumnus of Clean Break which works with female prisoners, former prisoners and those at risk of offending, to develop their creative writing and acting skills, and Jennifer Joseph is an alumnus.

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Jenny Jules played the role of Cassius in Julius Caesar’s transfer to St. Ann's Warehouse, (2013 London premiere, U.S. run) and appeared as a member of the ensemble in Henry IV (combined parts, 2015), as part of Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy.

Her other stage credits include playing Hermione Granger in the Broadway productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Tituba in The Crucible. Originally from London, she began her stage career through the youth theatre program at the Tricycle Theatre (now The Kiln).

Other theatre credits include: Her Portmanteau (Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, New York Theatre Workshop) Father Comes Home from the Wars (Jo Bonney, Public Theater New York), King Lear (Michael Attenborough, Almeida Theatre) Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (Michael Buffong, National Theatre) Ruined (Charles Randolph Wright, Arena Stage Washington DC) Ruined (Indhu Rubasingham, Almeida Theatre) A Raisin in the Sun (Michael Buffong, Royal Exchange) Death and the King’s Horseman (Rufus Norris, National Theatre) The Homecoming / Big White Fog (Michael Attenborough, Almeida Theatre) A Chain Play (Tom Cairns, Almeida Theatre) Fabulation (Indhu Rubasingham, Tricycle Theatre) Gem of the Ocean (Paulette Randall, Tricycle Theatre) Walk Hard (Nicholas Kent, Tricycle Theatre) The Vagina Monologues (Irina Brown, New Ambassadors) Born Bad (Kathy Burke, Hampstead Theatre) The Promise (Nicholas Kent, Tricycle Theatre) Wine in the Wilderness (Nicholas Kent, Tricycle Theatre) The Great White Hope (Nicholas Kent, Tricycle Theatre) The Colour of Justice (Nicholas Kent, Tricycle Theatre) Two Trains Running (Paulette Randall, Tricycle Theatre) Pecong (Paulette Randall, Tricycle Theatre).

Her film credits include: The Man Inside (Dan Turner, Scanner Rhodes) A Short Stay in Switzerland (Simon Curtis, BBC Films) Octane (Marcus Adams, Random Harvest) SW9 (Richard Parry, Fruit Salad Films) Wit (Mike Nichols, HBO Films) Up ’N’ Under (John Godber, Touchdown Films) Spiders and Flies (Danny Thompson, Crucial Films)

Television credits include: New Amsterdam (Various, NBC) EastEnders (Rupert Such, BBC) Law and Order (Mat King, ITV) Sonia (Dominic Leclerc, E4) Vexed (Matt Lipsey, BBC) Father and Son (Brian Kirk, Left Bank Pictures) Casualty (Rupert Such, BBC) The Golden Hour (Tim Leandro, Talkback Thames) Doctors (Darcia Martin, BBC) Judge John Deed (G.F. Newman, BBC) Holby City (Minki Spiro, BBC) I Saw You (Tom Vaughn, Granada Television) NCS Manhunt (Michael Whyte, BBC) A Respectable Trade (Suri Krishnamma, BBC) Kavanagh QC (Colin Gregg / Jack Gold, Central Television) Little Napoleons (Rob Walker, Channel 4) Prime Suspect II (John Strickland, Granada Television)

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Carolina Valdés played the roles of Antonio in The Tempest, Northumberland in Henry IV and Dog / Cinna in Julius Caesar, as part of Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy between 2012-2016.

Her other theatre credits include: The Late Henry Moss (Mel Hillyard, W14 Productions at Southwark Playhouse) The Secret Agent (Joseph Alford, theatre O & The Young Vic) Julius Caesar (Phyllida Lloyd, Donmar Warehouse) The 13 Midnight Challenges of Angelus Diablo (Lu Kemp, RSC at Latitude Festival) Delirium (Joseph Alford, theatre O at The Barbican & Abbey Theatre, Dublin) Casanova (Paul Hunter, Told By An Idiot at Lyric Hammersmith & UK Tour) Lyndie’s Got a Gun (Enda Walsh, Trafalgar Studios) Astronaut (co‑creator) (Joseph Alford, theatre O at The Barbican/UK Tour) The Argument (co‑creator) (Joseph Alford, theatre O at The Barbican/2003 Edinburgh Festival/UK & World Tour) 3 Dark Tales (co‑creator) (Joseph Alford, theatre O at The Barbican/The Culture Project, New York/Assembly Rooms/World Tour) Bond (Joseph Alford, theatre O at Battersea Arts Centre, Gilded Balloon, UK Tour).

Her film credits include: I Swear (Kirk Jones, One Story High) A Little Chaos (Alan Rickman, Potboiler Films) Mirror Touch (Daria Martin & Joseph Alford, Tate Modern). Her television credits include: Grace – Series 2–6 (Various, ITV) Killing Eve 3 (Terry McDonough, Netflix) Call the Midwife (Philippa Lowthorpe, Neal Street Productions for BBC1)

Her work as a Movement Director includes: Ramona Tells Jim (Mel Hillyard, Bush Theatre) Hamlet (David Farr, Royal Shakespeare Company) Julius Caesar – Associate Movement Director (Phyllida Lloyd, Donmar Warehouse) The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui (Walter Meierjohann, Liverpool Playhouse) and Rejkyavik (Carolina Valdés, Shams) Absurdia (Douglas Hodge, Donmar Warehouse).

Other credits include: 5 Moral Agents – Co‑Director (Carolina Valdés, theatre O – development work with Enda Walsh at NT Studio) All Mapped Out (Carolina Valdés, Gogolia) The Barber of Seville & Carmen (Carolina Valdés, Opera 21) The Garden (Carolina Valdés, Shams at Edinburgh Festival, UK & International Tour) The Lesson – Co‑Director (Carolina Valdés, theatre O) What If – Co‑Director (Carolina Valdés, tohu bohu/theatre O at Teatro Zona Nord Barcelona/Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh) and Treasure Island – Creative Associate (Polly Findlay, Royal National Theatre).

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Dame Harriet Walter played the roles of Prospero in The Tempest, Henry IV in Henry IV and Brutus in Julius Caesar, as part of Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy between 2012-2016.

Hariet Walter is a highly respected, Olivier award-winning British actress with a rich and varied body of work spanning across theatre, film, and television. She trained at LAMDA and holds an honorary from the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham in Stratford-upon-Avon. She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000 and, in 2011, was additionally appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).

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Kosar Ali is a multi-disciplinary creative and actor, she is currently developing projects as a writer and director while expanding her work as an artist within photography & fashion. Kosar is best known for her performance in the BAFTA and BIFA award winning film Rocks.For this role Kosar won Best Supporting Actress and Most Promising Newcomer at the 2021 BIFA along with receiving her first BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Her other screen credits include starring as Hana in BBC Pilot Pru and as Victoire for the Starz/Lionsgate+ -adapted TV series Dangerous Liaisons, based on Pierre Choderlos De Laclos’ classic 18th century novel. Kosar was most recently seen in the BIFA-nominated short film Muna, written and directed by Warda Mohamed where Kosar not only plays the lead role of Muna but has her first Executive Producer credit.

Kosar will next be seen in the short film Luna playing the lead character of Luna,directed by Radford Nicholls. Kosar has just finished a run of Are You Watching?, a play at the Royal Court Theatre directed by Jess Edwards. 

Kosar was named as one of the Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow 2021. 

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Shona Babayemi’s stage credits include: Boxes (Soho Theatre) Fatherland (Hampstead Theatre) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Globe Theatre) Twelfth Night (The Globe Theatre) [Blank] (Donmar Warehouse) Humans of Clean Break (Clean Break / Omnibus Theatre) All the Lights Are On (Clean Break) Rising (Cardboard Citizens) Response to Grenfell (Aldgate Square Festival) Every Brilliant Thing (Cockpit Theatre) Invisible People Berlin (UFA Fabric International Culture Centre / Cardboard Citizens) and Glint (Stratford Theatre Royal)

Her film credits include: Polite Society (Focus Features) and television includes: One Red Nose Day and a Wedding (BBC)

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Darcy Dixon is a multidisciplinary actor, singer, and movement artist based in Southeast London.

Her theatre credits include The Dream (Perform Productions), Mortality (Hope Theatre), Mawa Monologue Slam (Globe Theatre), imaginary natural beings (Network Theatre), Smart Casual (The Cockpit Theatre), Merrily We Roll Along (Oxford Playhouse), The Surplus (Young Vic), and Emil & The Detectives (National Theatre).  

Radio credits include: The Hummingbird (BBC Radio 3)

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Shalisha James-Davis'. Shalisha was recently seen in James Graham’s new play Punch in the West End; the show transferred after hugely successful runs at Nottingham Playhouse and the Young Vic. Last year, Shalisha starred as Juliet in the Royal Exchange’s production of Romeo & Juliet, for which she was shortlisted last month for The Ian Charleson Award.  Shalisha also played the role of ‘Luciana’ in The Comedy Of Errors at The Globe and Kitty in Anna Karenina at Chichester Festival Theatre with Natalie Dormer.  

She is known for her leading role Crossfire, which she shot opposite Keeley Hawes for the BBC. 

Shalisha’s other recent credits include Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, Amazon’s Alex Rider, The Split for ITV and the feature film Mary Queen Of Scots with Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. 

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Siân Stephens trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Her previous RSC credits include Two Gentleman of Verona. Theatre while training includes: Romeo and Juliet, Blithe Spirit, Tipping The Velvet, The Winter’s Tale

 

JULIUS CAESAR  

Originally produced by the Donmar Warehouse 

Touring to RSC Associate Schools from 21 September to 23 October  

Thursday 5 – Saturday 28 November, The Other Place*

*Julius Caesar in The Other Place is now sold out. Customers are advised to check with Box Office for available returns on the day.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd  

Tickets from £30 (The Other Place)  

‘Liberty, freedom, tyranny is dead!’  

Ancient Rome is brought to the stage as a group of female ‘prisoners’ present a 90-minute version of Julius Caesar. By acting out this story of leadership, control and corruption, their own fights for freedom and justice, and the power politics of prison life, come into harsh focus. 

Shakespeare’s politically-charged play tracks the rise and decline of Caesar’s popularity as the leader of Rome. A group of senators secretly recruit the ‘noble’ Brutus (played by Harriet Walter) to join an overthrow of Caesar. They murder him to prevent him becoming king, but their violent act leads to chaos.

This First Encounters with Shakespeare tour is a co-production with KPPL Productions, originally produced by the Donmar Warehouse.

With seats surrounding the stage, audiences can get close to the action and share their opinions on how the themes of the play speak to them and their community, with a discussion straight after the show on selected dates.

Julius Caesar is supported by Backstage Trust and RSC Production Circle Supporter Miranda Curtis CMG  

BOOKING INFORMATION 

Ticket Discounts: 

Discounts are available for Over 65s, Disabled People and Carers, Families, UK School and College Groups and Groups of 10 or more. Terms and conditions apply. See the website rsc.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01789 331111 for more details and to buy tickets. 

Reduced Price Previews and Press Nights in Stratford-upon-Avon are priced at £32.50 or under for A price seats and a limited number of Premium Tickets are also available. 

From 16 September onwards, mobile/e-tickets will be sent via email no earlier than 7 days prior to the performance. All ticket details will be included in an e-confirmation at the time of booking. 

Assisted Performances: 

The RSC offers a range of assisted performances on selected dates throughout the year. A list of upcoming dates and booking detail is available HERE. 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England 

The work of the RSC is supported by the Culture Recovery Fund 

The RSC is generously supported by RSC America 

The work of the RSC is generously supported by Backstage Trust 

With thanks to Season Supporter Charles Holloway OBE

The tour of First Encounters: Julius Caesar is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England

First Encounters: Julius Caesar is supported by Backstage Trust, CHK Foundation and Miranda Curtis CMG 

The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation 

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a leading global theatre company that sparks local, national and international conversations that build connections, create opportunities and bring joy. We passionately believe that great storytelling can change the world, and that theatre offers its own unique form of storytelling: it’s live and shared, and transforms a group of strangers into audiences who, together, experience a story come to life in front of their eyes.   

We collaborate with the most exciting artists to tell the stories of our time, and through a range of programmes we nurture the talent of the future.    

We perform on three stages in our home in Stratford-upon-Avon, in London and in communities and schools across the country and around the world.    

Our transformative Creative Learning and Engagement programmes reach over half a million young people each year.

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Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk.

Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies responsible for administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, of which we delivered over £1 billion to the sector in grants and loans. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19.

KPPL is an independent production company with a social justice focus.  Director Phyllida Lloyd and producer Kate Pakenham first worked together on the Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy which they presented on stage in London and New York, on screen and in prisons and schools.  

In 2025 KPPL produced James Graham’s Olivier Award winning play, Punch, in the West End, welcoming over 5,000 school children to see the play and bringing together 11 charity partners to offer weekly conversations around the show.  Profits from the West End are being used to create a version of the play to tour into schools in Autumn 2027. In 2024 KPPL co-produced the National Theatre’s Grenfell: In The Words Of Survivors at St Ann’s Warehouse, New York, and made the documentary, O Brave New World, about KPPL's work using Shakespeare to support rehabilitation of women in prison. 

KPPL has a special interest in making world-class work that both reaches a wide audience and brings value to the criminal justice and education sectors.  

The Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy was the culmination of a five-year project that began when Kate Packenham and Josie Rourke commissioned Phyllida Lloyd to direct Julius Caesar in their first season at the Donmar in 2012. The Trilogy – Julius Caesar, Henry IV and The Tempest was described as ‘one of the most important theatrical events of the past twenty years’ (Susannah Clapp, The Observer 2016). All three productions starred Harriet Walter and saw a number of its younger alumnae including Jade Anouka, Clare Dunne, Cynthia Erivo, Leah Harvey, Charlie Josephine, Cush Jumbo, Sharon Rooney and Susan Wokoma progress to careers as writers, producers and actors of international standing. All three productions were researched and performed in prison, in partnership with Clean Break Theatre Company and the York St John University Prison Partnership Project. They were also performed in schools and at St Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn and were filmed and broadcast by PBS and the BBC. All three productions are available to rent via Digital Theatre.