2025 Luke Westlake Scholarship Winner Darcy Dixon Cast in RSC's Julius Caesar
2025 Luke Westlake Scholarship winner Darcy Dixon joins the Royal Shakespeare Company in the acclaimed revival of Phyllida Lloyd's groundbreaking production of Julius Caesar.
Darcy Dixon, winner of the 2025 Luke Westlake Scholarship, has been cast in the Royal Shakespeare Company's highly anticipated revival of Julius Caesar, directed by the acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd. Dixon will play Lucius in the production, which embarks on a unique national schools tour before a public run in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Originally staged at the Donmar Warehouse in 2012, Lloyd's bold all-female interpretation of Shakespeare's tragedy has been widely recognised as one of the defining Shakespeare productions of the 21st century. The revival reunites many of the original cast while introducing a new generation of performers, including Dixon.
The cast of Julius Ceasar for the RSC
Darcy Dixon joins an acclaimed company
Darcy Dixon joins an outstanding ensemble led by Harriet Walter as Brutus. Returning cast members include Jackie Clune as Julius Caesar, Leah Harvey as Mark Antony, Jennifer Joseph as Trebonius, Jenny Jules as Cassius and Carolina Valdés as Casca.
New company members include:
Kosar Ali as Calpurnia, Metellus Cimber and Pindarus
Shona Babayemi as Cinna the Conspirator
Darcy Dixon as Lucius
Shalisha James-Davis as Portia and Octavius
Siân Stephens as the Soothsayer
For Dixon, the production marks a significant milestone, following their success as the 2025 Luke Westlake Scholarship winner and providing the opportunity to work with one of Britain's most celebrated Shakespeare directors.
A groundbreaking production returns
Lloyd's celebrated interpretation reframes Julius Caesar within the setting of a women's prison, where inmates stage Shakespeare's political tragedy as they examine themes of justice, freedom and power. The innovative concept received widespread critical acclaim during its original run and formed part of the director's landmark all-female Shakespeare trilogy.
The revival continues that legacy while introducing the production to new audiences across England.
Touring schools before Stratford-upon-Avon
The production opens at Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Peterborough on 21 September, before touring to schools including:
Treviglas Academy (Cornwall)
Dixons Cottingley Academy (Bradford)
Bluecoat Beechdale Academy (Nottingham)
St Mary's Catholic Academy (Blackpool)
The tour concludes with a public run at The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon from 5–28 November.
Alongside performances, the project includes workshops, post-show discussions, backstage shadowing opportunities and an extensive education programme designed to engage young people with Shakespeare and careers in theatre.
Theatre with social impact
The revival also strengthens Phyllida Lloyd's long-standing collaboration with HMP New Hall, where members of the cast will work directly with women in custody throughout rehearsals. Creative responses developed by participants will become part of the production's education programme and will be shared during the Stratford run.
The initiative forms part of the RSC's Building Partnerships programme, celebrating two decades of sustained collaboration with schools and communities across England.
Speaking about the production, Lloyd said it brings together "three communities" — the cast, women at HMP New Hall and young people across the country — with the shared aim of allowing "unheard voices to ring out and inspire change."
