The masterpiece production includes themes of intrigue and treachery, something that is still relevant in today’s politics, according to one of its actors. 

The production will take the actors to over 20 venues, but it will be in Dubbo over two days on September 25 and 26. 

Actor Ivan Donato plays Brutus in Julius Caesar. For Bell Shakespeare Ivan has appeared in Richard 3, Hamlet and Macbeth.

He was also part of the inaugural The Players ensemble and his other theatre credits include The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui, Machinal and Macbeth for Sydney Theatre Company.

His character is a man of principle and integrity and his devotion to Caesar is surpassed only by his devotion to Rome.

Originally from Melbourne, Ivan finished High School and moved to Sydney to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) and graduated in 2007.

Speaking to Fairfax Media ahead of the Dubbo show, Ivan said he was currently halfway through the Julius Ceasar tour, which will take the actors to a total of 27 venues across the country.

“But I’m really looking forward to coming to Dubbo,” Ivan said.

“I’ve been to Dubbo before. My partner and I go to the Zoo a lot, we absolutely adore it.”

Ivan first fell in love with acting when in High School, while performing in another Shakespeare play.

It was the otherworldly and quintessential elements to Shakespeare’s stories that made Ivan want to become an actor.

“I thought ‘this stuff is cool’,” he said. “I think it’s fair to say not all of Shakespeare’s plays are great. But Julius Caesar is definitely one of the clearer plays. The plot is simple and the dialogue is less convoluted.”

Shakespeare frequently ‘massaged’ historical facts for dramatic effect but in Julius Caesar he often remained faithful to real-life events.

Just a few weeks ago, while in Tasmania for the Julius Caesar tour, Ivan and the actors were amazed to see the political drama unfolding in the Australian government.

“It’s hilarious when you think about it (the similarities between Australian politics and Julius Caesar),” Ivan said.

“The play deals with this political assassination… but you only have to look back a couple of weeks ago with all that stuff happening (to see the similarity).

“There’s a notion we haven’t really changed in 500 years.”

The show is being held at the DRTCC on September 25 at 7:30pm and on September 26 at 11am.