"Julius Caesar" by Royal Shakespeare Company.

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

This is the first time that I've seen Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" performed on stage, although I have read the book.

Julius Caesar has returned to Rome triumphant from the war against Pompey. The Roman republic is prepared to heap him with new honours, causing concern and dismay among some senators who fear that too much power is held by one man. Cassius plots a conspiracy to murder Caesar, enlisting the support of the well-respected Brutus who has misgivings but is persuaded that Caesar's death is necessary for the good of the republic.

Brutus rejects Cassius' proposal that Mark Antony, close friend of Caesar, should also be killed though. Brutus, Cassius and their co-conspirators stab Caesar to death at the senate house on the Ides of March.

At Caesar's funeral Brutus addresses the people and explains the conspirators' motives. However, Mark Antony speaks and turns the mob against the conspirators, who are forced to flee from Rome. Mark Antony and Caesar's nephew, Octavius, take command of Rome and lead an army against the conspirators and hunt them down.

This is a very modern and stylised production of Shakespeare's bloody tale, with plenty of modern outfits, especially for Caesar, and, unless my eyes deceive me blood has now changed from red to black - maybe all that evil inside their bodies, who knows? And it resembles a gel like consistency. Whatever happened to power dressing?

Caesar looks like he has stepped out of a Primark ad for pensioners, and personally would have preferred a costume more befitting of Caesar's power and standing in his community. It looked as if we were attending a rehearsal period with the jeans, T Shirts, business suits and jogging bottoms.

That said, and also with a lack of props or extensive set design; there was a massive cube which at times looked like a structure for a fashion ad for M&S which was revolved, I did actually enjoy the performances and the rich text.

From what I gather, the play is usually heavy on male actors, but this cast is well balanced with non-binary actors. Cassius and Brutus are now "sisters", but occasionally referred to as "men". I don't give a monkey's if the roles are played by men or women as long as I can believe in the character, and I certainly did in the production, but it may have been a tad confusing for anyone who does not know the play, or experiencing Shakespeare for the first time.

When the play was written, around 400 years' ago, Shakespeare's male roles were often played by women, so this is nothing new and probably performed the way Shakespeare wrote it all those years' ago.

Caesar is played by Nigel Barrett, and for me there was a lack of supremacy. Caesar was feared as a ruler but there did not seem to be any fear shown by his followers. How much fear can you incite dressed in polyester trousers and an open neck shirt with a vest underneath?

Thalissa Teixeira is Brutus, and along with Cassius, played by Annabel Baldwin, this pair made the play for me. I loved the fiery passion and the beautiful smooth and completely natural delivery of the text was, for me, an absolute joy in this play. As I said previously, I don't care if the roles are played by binary or non-binary actors, as long as I can believe the characters.

William Robinson makes his RSC debut as Mark Antony, who of course delivers the "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears" speech. William did not disappoint and I relished the whole speech. Delivered with passion and great ebb and flow, you could tell from his face the feeling he has for Shakespeare and this role.

The Community Chorus is made up of local people, including our current Sherriff of Nottingham. The Chorus comprised of Khaya Job, Orla O'Connor, Shuguftah Quddoos, Laura Thurman, and Becky Valentine.

Sounding at times like the backing for a horror film, they created tension and fear when required. And it's also nice to see local talent gracing the stage with a company as respected as the Royal Shakespeare Company.

I was slightly confused with the dance section to open both acts and would have preferred to get straight on with the action, which would have shaved a good ten minutes from the running time.

Directed by Atri Banerjee who has managed to mirror the issues from Shakespeare's times with the current political climate regarding power struggles, and makes for an interesting piece of theatre. I am a bit of a traditionalist where Shakespeare's plays are concerned and the lack of costume, set and props did slightly make me feel like I was watching a rehearsal, apart from the action being full on, as I envisaged it would be.

If I can just elaborate on the lack of props. There were no swords, instead the character had to hold his hand out to replicate a blade and that was used for a weapon. The "blood" was a black "tar" like substance which was smeared on the victims, almost as if in a choreographed piece of ballet. A yellow shirt was used to show Caesar's dead body as well. I just wanted a bit more in the line of props, costumes and set really to go with the high acting levels I experienced.

"Julius Caesar" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 27 May.