Julius Caesar

An Immersive Shakespearean Tragedy in the Heart of Downtown Fredericton

Fresh from vanquishing his political rival, Pompey, Julius Caesar’s rise seems unstoppable, his sway over the masses and his campaign to Make Rome Great Again a runaway juggernaut. A group of opposing political elites, headed by Caius Cassius and Marcus Brutus, fear Caesar will become a ruthless dictator, and that the only way to prevent this is through his assassination. But the conspirators did not bargain on the charismatic populist appeal of Caesar’s protégé, Mark Antony, nor the susceptibility of the populace to propaganda and misinformation.

Julius Caesar is a Shakespearean tragedy for our times. Set amid the cut-and-thrust of contemporary politics and culture wars, where much of the fiercest combat is waged online, our production will take you on both an immersive literal journey through Fredericton’s political quarter and also on a virtual one, as you watch the characters battle in cyberspace on your phone up to the play’s ultimate devastating conclusion.

Show dates and time:

8:00 PM Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 15-July 3.

Reduced price preview performance June 15

Regular performances June 18, 19, 22, 25, 26, 29, and July 2 and 3.

All performances begin at 8:00 PM at the corner of Queen St. and Secretary’s Lane (near the Provincial Legislature), but patrons should arrive by 7:45 if purchasing tickets on site.  

Good walking shoes, clothing for all weather possibilities, and a blanket or camp stool to sit on are recommended.

Run time: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, with no intermission.

Show dates and time: As You Like It

Julius Caesar will run in repertory with our second production, As You Like It, which will be performed at

7:30 PM Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from June 16-July 1.

Reduced price preview performance June 16

Regular performances June 17, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30, and July 1.

All performances begin at 7:30 PM, but patrons should arrive at the park by 7:10 or earlier to allow time to buy tickets and make it to the play’s starting point.

Tickets for Julius Caesar: Tickets are available at the door at our box office at the corner of Queen St. and Secretary’s Lane, or can be purchased in advance online at https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/bard-in-the-barracks-33541233539.

Ticket Prices:

Single Tickets

Regular performances:

$20 regular

$15 for Seniors, Un/Underwaged

$12 for Students (valid student i.d. required).

Children 9 and under: Free.

Family pass $50 (any group of 3 or 4 related persons including at least one student).

Reduced price Preview Performances:

June 15 @ 8:00 (Julius Caesar)

June 16 @ 7:30 (As You Like It)

$15 Regular

$10 Seniors Un/Underwaged

$8 Students (valid student i.d. required).

Children 9 and under: Free.

Family pass: $40 (any group of 3 or 4 related persons including at least one student).

Other ways to save:

Festival Passes: Attend any regular performances of both As You Like It and Julius Caesar and your second show is half price!

Festival pass prices:

$30 Regular

$22 Seniors, Un/Underwaged

$15 Students (valid student i.d. required).

Family festival pass: $75 (any group of 3 or 4 related persons including at least one student).

Group Rates: Groups of five or more will save $3 per person in the group. Please reserve your group tickets in advance by emailing nbacts@unb.ca to indicate the names of the people in your party and the performance you plan to attend.

FAQ: What is a preview? It’s the final dress rehearsal for the play and first time with an audience for the show, allowing the cast and crew a chance to make final adjustments to the performance.)

FAQ: What is “Un/Underwaged”? If you would like to see the show but owing to your employment/financial situation you feel you cannot afford the full ticket price and would appreciate a small discount, you can identify as such, no questions asked.

Audience numbers will be capped at 70 patrons nightly. For this reason, buying advance tickets or showing up early is advisable on fair weather nights in particular. For information on ticket availability, phone 506 545-8214.

Advance tickets purchased for rained-out performances can be used for subsequent shows or returned for refund (call or email us at nbacts@unb.ca to arrange your refund). If rain forces the cancellation of a performance already in progress, audience members can use their ticket stub for free admittance to a subsequent performance, or can opt for a ticket refund if the stoppage occurs prior to halfway through the show. For more on our weather policy, see below.

COVID considerations: Proof of vaccination is not required to attend our productions, and masking is optional for audience members. Audience advisory: in Julius Caesar audience members will at times be in close proximity to unmasked performers. Please contact us if you have questions about this or would like more information.

What to Wear: Clothing that is appropriate for all weather possibilities and suitable for sitting on the ground. Dress in layers: though days may be warm, evenings can still be cool. We recommend good walking shoes for the production as audiences will be walking frequently between scene locations.

What to Bring: Raincoat and hat if threat of rain; a blanket, cushion, or small lightweight camp stool to sit on. Feel free to bring a lawnchair, but be advised that you will be on the move frequently, so one that is not too cumbersome to carry would be best. Insect repellent would not be a bad idea as the concluding scenes of the play take place along the Green at dusk.

What Not to Bring: Your dog. You love him; we probably would too. But audience members will be at close quarters, and for the safety and comfort of all involved, we ask you to leave Rover at home. A lot of stuff. You’ll be moving around frequently during the show, so having a lot of backpacks, bags, etc. to carry with you will get tiresome.And please no smoking or vaping during the show.

Is it Suitable for Children? Julius Caesar is a dark Shakespearean tragedy of political intrigue that includes scenes of violence. While our production has been pared down quite a bit, it is still a full length play. Given these considerations, if you feel your children are up for the show, we’d love to have them!   

Is the Show Accessible for Those with Physical Challenges? The play is a promenade-style production, with audiences moving between locations along Queen Street between the Crowne Plaza and the Walking Bridge. Scene locations are all accessible but audiences will shift locations frequently, with total distance covered between 1 and 2 km. Please contact us if you have any questions about accessibility.

Where to Find Us: The play will begin at the corner of Queen St. and Secretary’s Lane, in front of the provincial legislature. It will conclude near the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.

Our rainy weather policy and procedures: Every effort will be made to avoid cancelling the show. We cancel performances very rarely, and only in case of sustained rain or threat of thunderstorms at show time. Rain earlier in the day (unless of the torrential variety) will not cause show cancellations, but bring a blanket so you don’t have to sit on wet ground. The play will go ahead in case of intermittent light rain/drizzle, so audience members are encouraged to dress appropriately.

Because we try to avoid cancellations, decisions on whether to proceed with the show will sometimes not be made until quite close to show time (around 7 PM). For updates on show status, please call our box office line at 506 545-8214. Weather-related show updates will also be sent out via Twitter (follow us: @BardBarracks) and posted on this website.

In the event of rainouts on the final weekend of the show, an additional performance may be added to the run on Monday, July 4. Check this site for updates. Better yet, come see the show early on to avoid final weekend rainout heartbreak!

Questions? Contact us at (506) 458-7406 or nbacts@unb.ca. Bard Artistic Director Len Falkenstein can be reached at lfalken@unb.ca.