Globe Education Online

Coriolanus [Jonathan Cake] and Tullus Aufidius [Mo Sesay]. Photo: John Haynes

directed by Dominic Dromgoole

Constant strife exists between the powerful aristocracy and th ehungry citizens of Rome, Many in the the city yearn for peace bt influential politicians know that their positions at home are secured by military campaigns abroad. Into this ferment stride the inflexible patrician general Caius Martius, fresh from his vcitory over the hated Volscians. Martius' deep distaste for the ordinary Roman people is exposed and exploited by his political rivals, and he is thrown into a humiliating exile.

Set in the early Roman republic, Coriolanus is Shakespeare's greatest political play. The competing claims of democracy and aristocracy are conveyed in harsh and stony language and with relentless speed and single-mindedness. At its heart, however, and against a lively background of citizens and soldiers, unfolds a personal tragedy of one man's emotional blindness.

 Creative Team

Director: Dominic Dromgoole
Designer: Mike Britton
Composer & Arranger: William Lyons
Fight Director: Renny Krupinski
Choreographer: Siân Williams

 Cast

Andrew Vincent - Aedile/Senator
John Dougall - Junius Brutus
Trevor Fox - 1st Citizen
Paul Rider - 2nd Citizen
Richard Butler, Garry Collins, Matthew Dunphy, Akiya Henry, Andrew Vincent, Howard Ward - Other Citizens
Joseph Marcell - Cominius
Jonathan Cake - Caius Martiua, later Coriolanus
Ciaran McIntyre - Titus Lartius/2nd Servingman
Richard Butler - Young Martius
Robin Soans - Menenius Agrippa
Trevor Martin - Senator/1st Servingman
Frank McCusker - Sicinius Velutus
Akiya Henry - Valeria
Jane Murphy - Virgilia
Margot Leicester - Volumnia
Howard Ward - Adrian
Mo Sesay - Tullus Aufidius
Garry Collins - Nicanor
Matthew Dunphy - 3rd Servingman

Discover the Play

Discover the actors' experiences making the production in Adopt An Actor:

Joseph Marcell as Cominius
Frank McCusker as Sicinius Velutus
Mo Sesay as Tullus Aufidius
Margot Leicester as Volumnia

Coriolanus was performed in 2006, as part of the Edges of Rome Season.