Royal Shakespeare Company's Julius Caesar explores power and justice inside Blackpool school gym

An acclaimed all-female staging of Julius Caesar is reaching a new audience in Blackpool as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s First Encounters with Shakespeare tour at St Mary’s Catholic Academy.

The production, originally conceived by Phyllida Lloyd for the Donmar Warehouse in 2012, reimagines Shakespeare’s classic in a women’s prison, using the narrative of political ambition and turmoil to mirror contemporary struggles for justice and voice.

St Mary’s students, staff and local community groups will be among the first to experience the 90-minute adaptation before wider ticketing opens.

The cast, led by Dame Harriet Walter as Brutus and Jackie Clune as Julius Caesar, draws on lived experience through collaboration with women from HMP New Hall, grounding the prison setting in authenticity.

Throughout the week-long residency, the production will extend beyond the stage to engage young people directly.

Teaching across several subjects will incorporate themes from the play, while the company will run tailored workshops, career talks, and debates.

Up to four students will have the chance to shadow production staff, gaining practical insights into technical theatre and touring.

The initiative aims to reach those who may not otherwise access live theatre.

Director Phyllida Lloyd commented, “Our pledge with Harriet to take Julius Caesar into schools marks our belief that young people deserve world-class theatre - the absolute best of the best. If they cannot afford to come to us, we are coming to them.”

Young Creatives from the academy will also craft their own artistic responses to Julius Caesar before being showcased at the Young Creatives Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon, joining 200 students from across England to reflect on the play’s relevance to their lives and communities.

A highlight of the residency will be a post-show community conversation, featuring company members and local figures from Blackpool and the criminal justice sector, exploring how creative health initiatives can support young people at risk.

Celine Wyatt, Head of Creative Learning and Development at Blackpool Grand Theatre said: “The Grand has been a proud theatre partner with the RSC for 14 years and been committed to their First Encounter tours since they first toured schools, community venues and performed on our stage. We are thrilled that this work is coming to St Mary's Academy one of our lead Associate Schools. We have 16 schools in the programme and many of them along with community will be seeing this powerful work.

“We are delighted to welcome Chris Webb MP and Dr Elaine McNeill to the post show discussion panel. Elaine brings a wealth of experience in the field of creative health and is now an Arts - based Researcher, Mobilising Community Assets Programme UCL, Arts & Science.”

Chief Executive of Blackpool Grand Theatre Adam Knight said: “My first encounter with the RSC was in early 1994, when I saw David Thacker’s production of Julius Caesar, featuring Jeffrey Kissoon, David Sumner and Finbar Lynch, at Lancing Leisure Centre, just along the coast from my hometown of Worthing.

“I was completely entranced. It feels wonderfully fitting that, as Chief Executive of Blackpool Grand, we are now celebrating our 14-year partnership with the RSC by welcoming Phyllida Lloyd’s acclaimed production of Julius Caesar to the school gym at St Mary’s Catholic Academy next week.

“Perhaps there will be a 15-year-old in the audience who is equally inspired and goes on to become a future Chief Executive of The Grand!”