Theatre / Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, directed by Caitlin Baker. At the ACTHub until August 2. Reviewed by ARNE SJOSTEDT.

A gallant effort, Chaika Theatre did well to present the sense that the fate of an empire rested on the events being played out.

This was an intense evening, with high emotional and political stakes – the gravity of which was not lost.

Directed by Caitlin Baker, themes of loyalty, ambition and fate were sharply drawn. Colin Giles brought Mark Antony to life, while Lachlan Ruffy gave Brutus a calm reservation and stoic perseverance, grounding the play’s philosophical centre.

Michael Sparks offered an at times camp portrayal of Caesar. It was a slightly jarring choice, yet one that still managed to convey the gravitas of the man, and the weight of the unfolding events.

This was a committed production. That said, there was a certain sense of its many parts not always gelling together. Perhaps it was a slight lack of polish in the costumes. It could have been that gulf between performer and audience that can exist when people deliver Shakespeare.

The world of the play is crucial – it must feel inhabited – and only the most cohesive productions achieve this seamlessly. This production reached for that level of execution, and it achieved it in certain moments – however, it did seem to be a little disjointed and sometimes over-laboured.

The second half was more fluid and engaging. Lachlan Houen’s lighting design and Paris Scharkie’s sound work combined effectively to suggest the chaos and momentum of battle. These elements helped raise the tension and sharpen the dramatic impact.

Julius Caesar is a demanding work to stage — sprawling, rhetorical, and complex in tone. While Chaika’s production showed intensity, dedication and flashes of theatrical strength, it would have benefitted from a stronger unifying vision and more time in the rehearsal room to really find its voice.