Independent Theatre to Open 30th Anniversary Season With CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA, April 4-12

Independent Theatre began its theatrical life at the Adelaide Fringe in 1984, and celebrates its 30th birthday this year.

To start the year, it is mounting Bernard Shaw's seldom-seen, but scintillatingly topical political comedy, CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA, about the aging Julius Caesar's attempts to educate Egypt's 16-year-old queen in the politics of power. Their relationship is very like that of Shaw's Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle.

The fabled queen of the Nile has fascinated authors, playwrights, film-makers and actresses for centuries through Plutarch, Shakespeare and Shaw, to Theda Bara, Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh and Liz Taylor.

The play is a perfect vehicle for the start of Independent Theatre's birthday year.

One arm of the company's original charter was to bring neglected classics to Adelaide audiences. Seldom produced, because of its size (professional companies just can't afford to stage it), the play remains a classic, not just because of Shaw's trademark wit and humour, but also because - like all Shaw plays - it has brilliant things to say about social, moral and political issues. In CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA, it is the exercise of political power, and his Caesar savagely attacks the politics of revenge, retribution and retaliation.

One only has to look at the world's trouble-spots today to see that Shaw's warning - over a hundred years ago - is still potent today.

In keeping with all Independent Theatre's major productions, CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA sports a large cast, on brilliantly imaginative sets, and wearing a stunning array of Roman and Egyptian costumes, all specially made for the production.

Independent Theatre has a happy history with Shaw's plays, proving that Adelaide audiences are hungry for entertaining plays of ideas. CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA is likely to prove no exception.

Directed by Rob Croser, the play stars David Roach as Caesar and Alicia Zorkovic as Cleopatra.

CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA will run at the Odeon Theatre on Queen Street in Norwood on April 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 at 7.30. It will feature matinees on April 6 at 4:00 and April 12 at 2:00. An early performance will take place April 8 at 6.30.

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