SASKATOON — Shakespeare in the Saskatchewan is offering a modern take on William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, with director Joshua Beaudry presenting the story that led to the Roman dictator’s assassination through the lens of current political instability, social media, and military influences.
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, shortened to Julius Caesar, is one of two mainstage productions by Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan for the 2026 season’s Love & Tyranny, of the English playwright’s works, the other being the comedy Much Ado About Nothing.
Julius Caesar opened on Wednesday, July 15, and will run until Aug. 21, while Much Ado About Nothing, which follows the romance of Claudio and Hero, opened on Tuesday, July 14, and will end on Aug. 23, at their new venue along the South Saskatchewan River.
Beaudry said the theatre company approached him with the idea of a contemporary version of the classic Julius Caesar, something he welcomed and loved to do. He believes today's political climate makes it more relevant than ever.
"In this day and age with social media and TikTok, we're inundated with politics. I drew upon a lot of that for this production. Rather than setting it in any specific place or targeting any specific character, I drew from world events that resemble the scenario in the show,” said Beaudry.
His production connects Shakespeare's story of ambition, assassination and political upheaval to current events, instead of presenting it in ancient Rome. Caesar’s assassination brought down the Roman Republic, which mirrors the instability that continues to unfold in countries around the world.
"Because the senators in the show take it upon themselves to save the Republic of Rome, that leads to the assassination of Caesar. From that point on, the republic fell. It was the end of the Roman Republic and led to years of civil war,” said Beaudry
“I think we can see those kinds of things happening even today. A couple of years ago in America there was an insurrection, and there's been stuff in the past year that has happened overseas as well. History repeats itself."
He added that the modern interpretation extends beyond the script to the visual design, as their production adopts a military aesthetic, with Caesar portrayed as a military leader and many of the senators also dressed as military officers.
"That came out of the idea of doing the modern adaptation. When I was looking at Julius Caesar, we wanted to give it more of a military look. She holds a military position, and a lot of the senators are also military,” said Beaudry.
The contemporary costumes for the play, instead of the usual tunics and togas worn in ancient Rome, reinforce the themes of power, authority, and political conflict while avoiding direct comparisons to any single modern government or public figure.
The production also takes advantage of the new performance tent, which allows for a more technically ambitious presentation than previous seasons. Beaudry said audiences can expect an immersive visual experience enhanced by sophisticated lighting and production design.
"One of the things with this new site that we have at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, and this much darker tent, is that we're able to do a lot more technically. There are over 250 lighting cues, and it looks pretty phenomenal when you're watching the show,” Beaudry added.
Despite its serious political themes, Beaudry said, like many of Shakespeare's tragedies, Julius Caesar includes moments of humour that provide balance to the tension. At the same time, the visual spectacle helps make the centuries-old play accessible to modern audiences.
"I think there'll be a really good response to the show. It's pretty exciting, and there's a bit of humour in it. As with all Shakespeare plays, even the dramas, there's always a little bit of humour," said Beaudry, who has been a theatre director for over 15 years.
The production also marks his third collaboration with Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan after previously directing The Comedy of Errors and The Tempest. He hopes this latest interpretation demonstrates that Shakespeare's examination of ambition, loyalty and political power continues to resonate in an era defined by social media, global conflict and increasingly polarized public discourse.
