BRUTUS

BRUTUS, created and directed by Rebecca Wickert and Ella Eastman-Kiesow and devised from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is a multidisciplinary production of theater arts and dance. Performed at Theatre in the Round during the 30th Annual Minnesota Fringe Festival, BRUTUS was created in collaboration with a team of fifteen other theater artists which included actors, dancers, designers, and a stage manager.

Awaken in the depths of a tormented mind and follow the quest of a young, passionate, tragic hero as they navigate political and social influences in their own nightmare. Through the story of Caesar’s brutal murder and the fallout afterwards from the perspective of Shakespeare’s tragic hero, Brutus, we explore gender oppression, madness, and moral dilemma. How is radical protest justified? Is good and evil black and white? How do the systems in place contribute to hysteria? With elements of modern dance and alternative rock music to guide the way, Brutus learns the power of manipulation, violence, and hysteria in a world of corrupted politics and power. The addition of dance and surrealist A24 inspired horror gives the show a captivating, nightmarish tone, while exploring horrifyingly real emotions. Through Shakespeare’s text and the additions of modern dance and theater, we hope to shine a new light on this classic play.