Julius Caesar, Barbican Centre

Beware the Ides of November. Julius Caesar comes to the Barbican this winter as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Rome MMXVII season.

Aside from its nuanced treatment of tyranny, betrayal, and the fragility of power, the story of back-stabbed Julius Caesar is a sobering lesson in looking over one’s shoulder. And this production looks back to tradition with a relatively traditional, historically-costumed take on the history play.

When it opened at Stratford-Upon-Avon, Angus Jackson's production of the Roman conqueror’s violent usurpation was accused of missing some much-needed links with the modern (and particularly post-Trump) world. The Telegraph complained 'it’s as if the RSC is turning its back on the daunting political upheavals of our age: the return of autocracy, the savage, chaotic aftermath of civil uprisings.'

But then again, the strength of the acting can’t be discounted, in particular James Corrigan’s calculating Mark Antony and Martin Jackson's intense Cassius. If you're looking for a traditional take on Shakespeare this winter, this roman tragedy is a safe bet.