Caligula

About Caligula

In this darkly comic drama, the charismatic but dangerously unpredictable Roman Emperor tries to understand the meaning of life. Not all goes well for those around him!

Following the death of his beloved sister, Caligula deserts the Roman Assembly for three days and nights. During his absence, he imagines a perverse campaign of murder and horror in a quest to discover personal freedom and happiness.

Nobel Prize winner, Albert Camus's internationally acclaimed drama creates a captivating theatrical balance between terror, intrigue, and dark comic moments.

This rip-roaring translation by Scottish playwright, David Greig played to rave reviews on London's West End.

For more information about Red Phoenix Theatre head to their website

Reviews

★★★★ '...darkly manic and depressing yet contains moments of humour and genuine pathos – qualities well explored by director Michael Eustice and his capable cast.' - Rosie van Heerde, The Clothesline

'This production is bloody good theatre.' - Brian Godfrey, Glam Adelaide

'Caligula is not easy, and its existential musings make demands on the audience as well as the cast. But as Caligula (dressed as Venus) says: “Suspend your disbelief when you go to the theatre.'' - Peter Burden, The Advertiser

'Red Phoenix Theatre’s production of Caligula is drama at its stunning best…with plenty of comic sting in its lethal tale.' - Lesley Reed, Stage Whispers

'This is an extraordinary play which requires an actor of extraordinary abilities to fulfil the role of Caligula. Robert Bell as the young Caligula, with a face as innocent as an angel and a mind as tortured as any devil, fills the role to perfection.' - Emily Sutherland, 5MBS Radio

'Potent, at moments funny, Caligula is another deeply rewarding Red Phoenix night at Holden Street.' - Samela Harris, Barefoot Review

'To everybody's delight, this first performance for the 2018 season lived up to the company's reputation for excellence and attention to detail...don't wait for a second to book tickets.' - Barry Lenny, Broadway World

'All those who crave something dark, rich, and strange should make this one a priority.' - Anthony Vawser, Adelaide Theatre Guide

'For the violence Caligula’s rule causes – the brutal killings of many and the rape and forced prostitution of others, Michael Eustice has found a way to make this a play which does not show that violence and as such does not feel like two hours of ruthless slaying.' - Matilda Marseillaise

Cast

Adrian Barnes, Robert Bell, Joshua Coldwell, Brant Eustice, Ruby Faith, David Grybowski, David Lockwood, Mark Mulders, John Rosen, Malcolm Walton, Tracey Walker and Lyn Wilson.

Cast Bios

ADRIAN BARNES has had a long and productive career. After training in England Adrian appeared with many distinguished British repertory companies and in a string of West End musicals. Moving to Australia in 1981 Adrian continued an active performing career and has taught extensively in many of the renowned Southern Hemisphere drama schools. Continuing to pursue an active performance career, Adrian has worked extensively in Australia in such well known shows as Pirates of Penzance (The Broadway Version), The 60^th Anniversary Tour of The Mousetrap and the first Wolf Creek the TV series. Earlier this year he appeared in The School for Scandal for Blue Sky Theatre. This is Adrian’s third appearance with Red Phoenix, after the highly acclaimed productions of Don Parties On and The Conspirators.

ROBERT BELL has been fascinated with ancient history since a young age and is thrilled to be playing one of Rome’s most notorious Emperor’s, Caligula. Robert made his Adelaide theatre debut in 2011, as the brain-damaged Michal in The Pillowman, which earned him an Adelaide Critics Circle nomination for Emerging Artist of the Year. Since then he hasn't stopped gallivanting from stage to stage and has continued to grow as an actor. In 2015/2016 Robert won back to back Adelaide Theatre Guide Awards for his portrayals of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph Merrick in The Elephant Man, which also saw him win the Adelaide Critics Circle Individual Award. Theatre aside, some of Robert's favourite things are food, wine and his two British Bulldogs, Howard and Holly."

JOSHUA COLDWELL has appeared in myriad different roles including several Theatre Guild Shakespeare productions. For The Stirling Players in The Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Collaborators and The Beaux' Stratagem. For the Adelaide Rep in Star Quality, Dracula, MC for both, Mystery of the Hansom Cab and Only an Orphan Girl; as well as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He has worked consistently for Red Phoenix performing in Titus Andronicus, Two Brothers and most recently The White House Murder Case. Joshua is also a dedicated member of Blue Sky theatre, appearing in both Sense and Sensibility and The School for Scandal.

BRANT EUSTICE has worked in theatre since the early 1980s. For State Theatre Company of South Australia appearances include Sex Diary of an Infidel, Carrying Light, Lion Pig Lion and God of Carnage; and the joint STCSA and Sydney Theatre Company production of David Williamson’s The Removalists. Brant regularly reads poems for Radio National. Most recent appearances include The Conspirators, The White House Murder Case, Two Brothers, Don Parties On and Titus Andronicus – all for Red Phoenix, Bracken Moor for Independent Theatre and Holy Day for the Theatre Guild. He has received three Adelaide Critics Circle Awards; for directing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, and acting in Oleanna for the Theatre Guild, and acting in The Conspirators. Brant co-wrote (with Andy Packer) Slingsby Theatre Company’s show, The Mouse, the Bird and the Sausage.

RUBY FAITH began her theatrical journey when she joined The Bunyip Children’s Theatre at 8 years of age and performed in multiple productions. She has acted with many other theatre groups over the years including The Westenders, the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild, and State Youth Operas. Ruby’s driving passion over the last 20 years have been as a singer/songwriter performing with many bands including jazz quartet Kaliope, The Milk, and more recently her duo The Rubytones. Ruby is a Red Phoenix board member, appeared in The Conspirators and ran the sound for The White House Murder Case.

DAVID GRYBOWSKI migrated from Canada in 1982 to work as a petroleum geologist. His first brush with theatre was Saturday drama classes with Bruno Knez at La Mama. David has performed in over thirty productions in Adelaide and Brisbane. Highlights include Molina in Jimmy Zoole Presents's Kiss of the Spiderwoman, The King in The Met's The King and I and Willy Loman in Therry's Death of a Salesman in 2016. Recent Matt Byrne Media productions were Reservoir Dogs (2013) and 12 Angry Men (2016). Film highlights include the Japanese-SA Film Corp co-production of Ultraman in 1989. Oh, remember the Stratco ad with the Russian and American soldiers checking out the new fence? He was the Russian.

DAVID LOCKWOOD is a history academic at the University of Adelaide. He has performed for Stirling Players inHow the Other Half Loves, Outside Edge and Wait until Dark. For St Jude’s Players he was Dr Willis in The Madness of George III and in 2006 he played Thomas Cromwell in A Man for All Seasons. In 2011 he played the Reverend Harry Harrison in the St Jude’s production of Shadowlands and was Doctor Watson in their 2012 production of The Final Toast. In 2014 he played both Doctors in Stirling’s Collaborators and in 2015 he played Ernest in Galleon Theatre’s Rumours. In 2016 David played Reverend Chasuble in The Importance of Being Earnest for St Jude's Players.

MARK MULDERS graduated from Mercedes College in 2017. He has been studying drama for 10 years with Peta Louise Drama and Speech Academy. Mark continues to study and progress through both AMEB and Trinity Exams. Mark joined Independent Theatre Inc. as Jem Finch for the revival of To Kill a Mocking Bird (2012). He was ASM for Playboy of The Western World (2013) then the young king, Ptolemy, in Caesar and Cleopatra (2014). In 2015, aged 14, he stage-managed Long Days Journey Into Night. This was followed by a number of roles in The Great Gatsby (2015) and assistant stage-managing Red Velvet. Last year Mark stage managed The Matchmaker and played Parsons in ROSS. Mark is working on making acting his full time career.

JOHN ROSEN last performed at Holden Street Theatres in Matt Byrne Media's 2004 production of Soulmates, by David Williamson. Since then he has had roles in Therry's productions of Curtains, Crazy For You and Big Fish. He also appeared as John Proctor in Burnside Players 2006 production of The Crucibl".

MALCOLM WALTON started his theatre career with the Hills Musical Company and Stirling Players, then performing with many of Adelaide’s amateur theatre companies from Burnside to Kingscote, and most recently with Independent Theatre in their revival of Cry God for Harry at The Space Theatre. This is Malcolm’s debut with Red Phoenix. Cast as dysfunctional characters in many of his previous roles, he now takes comfort in being cast as a less dysfunctional character than some of the others in this play. When he’s not on stage, Malcolm frets a bit and needs hobbies to keep him occupied until the next gig comes along. He enjoys pass-times closely related to theatre such as home renovations, landscape gardening, fishing and cycling.

TRACEY WALKER has been involved in Adelaide theatre for over 20 years. She is thrilled to be back on stage with Red Phoenix, having previously performed in the company’s productions of Two Brothers and Titus Andronicus. Tracey most recently appeared in the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild’s production of Lettice and Lovage as Lettice Douffet. Other productions have included Andrew Bovell's When the Rain Stops Falling with St Jude's Players; The Cripple of Inishmaan with the Adelaide Repertory Theatre; The Darling Buds of May with Therry; The Playboy of the Western World with Independent Theatre; and as Martha in Burnside Players' Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She has worked with many other Adelaide companies including Blue Sky Theatre, Mixed Salad Productions and the Stirling Players.

LYN WILSON has been involved in theatre for many years initially performing with St Judes Players and the John Edmund Theatre. She joined Independent Theatre in 1989 where favourite roles included Stella in A Street Car Named Desire, Helen McCormick in The Cripple of Inishmaan, Mrs de Winter in Rebecca, Anne Lindbergh in John Logan’s Hauptmann, the adult Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Wilson in Charles Smith’s Free Man of Colour, Amelia in Othello, and Vanessa Avery in Bracken Moore. Lyn performed in Red Phoenix’s first three productions, Titus Andronicus, Don Parties On and Two Brothers. Following this she played Rose in Rose’s Dilemma for St Judes Players and Lady Marchmain in Independent Theatre’s production of Brideshead Revisited.