Tryon – Shakespeare & Friends unveils a world-premiere theatrical production this March with The Ides, an original reimagining of William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar.
The Ides uses Shakespeare’s immortal script mixed with modern technology to reimagine the classic political thriller as a ripped-from-the-headlines battle between warring factions in a corporate warehouse.
Performances will be March 13, 14, and 15 at the Landrum Farmers Market in Landrum, SC, and March 22 and 23 at The Hideaway venue in downtown Asheville. The unconventional performance spaces were chosen for an immersive experience more evocative of the warehouse setting than a traditional theater.
Adapted and directed by Michelle Newman, The Ides tells a classic story within a contemporary frame recognizable to anyone following news of strikes, union busting, and corporate takeovers—or anyone who has been on the picket line themselves.
“Even though it was written over 400 years ago, the story and the language itself speak perfectly to our current anxieties,” said Newman.
“We still share these same worries about who holds power in our society and how to fight back against perceived injustices, whether they’re coming from an all-powerful Roman general or a ubiquitous corporation,” said Newman.
The story has been further updated with the use of video projections and modern technology.
“One of the ideas the play dramatizes is the nature of our public lives versus our private lives,” explained Newman. “For the audiences in Shakespeare’s day, this was shown by secret letters and overheard conversations. We can bring this to life now through TikTok videos, social media, and the threat that we’re always at risk of being recorded and going viral.”
The performance stars top talent from across the region, including Asheville-based actors Aaron Ybarra as Brutus, Anthony Abraira as Cassius, and Robert Thorpe as Caesar.
All performances start at 8 p.m. and will run approximately two hours. The Ides includes brief, simulated violence from the original play but is appropriate for all ages. Following each performance, the cast and crew will offer an informal talkback with the audience to discuss the play.
This is the second original adaptation of a Shakespearean play by the Shakespeare & Friends theater company, following last year’s performances of a reimagined version of the tragedy Hamlet.
Shakespeare & Friends is based in Tryon, NC, and has been presenting classic plays with a modern twist across the Carolina foothills since 2019.
Tickets and additional details are available at shakespeare-friends.com/the-ides.