The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has been accused of "patronising" theatregoers by slapping 14 trigger warnings on a new production of Julius Caesar. The all-female production includes alerts for "characters experiencing grief" and murder, imprisonment, fake blood and plastic knives and toy guns, reports suggest.
Actors criticise warnings
The play, which stars Dame Harriet Walter, also has a trigger warning about the murder of Caesar, telling audiences the "violent act involves multiple stabbing". Felicity Kendal, an actress who has starred in critically-lauded productions of Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing, described the precautions as "patronising".
She told the Daily Mail: "Why the need to apologise in advance for being moving and effective? To itemise every aspect and sound effect of a performance beforehand seems absurd."
Concerns over 'mollycoddling' children
Dame Janet Suzman, who had a celebrated early career with the RSC, also warned against "mollycoddling" children watching Shakespeare productions. "They should be shouting out to audiences to come and be shocked and surprised and intrigued and not creep in nervously," she said.
RSC defends decision
The RSC said the trigger warnings were "designed to help people make informed decisions, such as whether to bring children to a performance". They added: "Julius Caesar is one of Shakespeare's tragedy plays. There are deaths in the play, including murder and the reporting on death by suicide, as well as depictions of self-harm and characters experiencing grief.
"This production is set in an all-female prison, with the actors playing prison characters and the stage management team playing prison guards."
The production, called First Encounters: Julius Caesar, is currently touring regional venues ahead of a series of shows in Stratford-upon-Avon this November.
