Why Shakespeare is Actually an Action Movie | Roxanne Fay on Julius Caesar

"Throw the idea that you’re going to a Shakespeare play out the window."

In this episode of the Tampa Bay Arts Passport podcast, we’re joined by actor and dramaturg Roxanne Fay to dismantle every boring misconception you have about the Bard. Fay is bringing a "compact," high-stakes adaptation of Julius Caesar to The Studio@620 this March, and it’s built more like Gladiator than a high school English lesson.

We dive into:

The "Alchemy of Gender": Why Fay is using an all-female cast to play these iconic male roles.

The Radical Edit: Why she decided to cut the only two female characters in the original play to make a point about power.

Beyond the Script: A raw, honest conversation about being an artist while navigating the challenges of being a full-time caregiver.

Alleviating "Existential Dread": Why live, human stories are the only thing that makes 2026 feel safe.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Introduction: This isn't a college course.
2:15 – Why Brutus? Falling in love with the words. 5:30 – The all-female cast and the choice to cut Calpurnia and Portia. 11:45 – Shakespeare as an action movie: Action and Consequence. 19:10 – The professional Shakespeare scene in Tampa Bay. 24:30 – Life as an artist and a caregiver: The most important role. 27:15 – The March Book Club: Retelling the Iliad with Tombolo Books. 29:20 – Rapid Fire: Alleviating existential dread in 2026.


JOIN THE BOOK CLUB:
We are reading The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker in partnership with Tombolo Books. Join us on March 15th for a discussion followed by a group trip to see Julius Caesar!

GO SEE IT:
Julius Caesar at The Studio@620
St. Petersburg, FL
March 2026

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