Secret Shakespeare transforms Julius Caesar into immersive open-air experience at Reading Abbey Ruins

Secret Shakespeare returns this summer with an immersive new staging of Julius Caesar, inviting audiences to step directly into the world of ancient Rome.

Running from 3^rd to 20^th June 2026 at Reading Abbey Ruins, the production blurs the line between performer and spectator, with actors embedded among the audience and scenes unfolding across the historic site. Described as “thrillingly new” by British Theatre Guide, the company’s approach reimagines Shakespeare as a fully interactive, promenade experience.

Audiences will move through the ruins as the drama unfolds, becoming citizens of Rome as conspiracies emerge and allegiances shift. The production begins in the Chapter House, with the surrounding spaces brought to life as the story progresses.

Artistic Director Gavin Leigh emphasises the company’s playful subversion of theatrical convention: “If all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players, what if they didn’t have their exits and their entrances?”

The open-air performance embraces the unpredictability of its setting, continuing in all weather conditions and encouraging audiences to engage with the environment as part of the storytelling.

Performances run for approximately 100 minutes, with tickets priced at £15 (£12 concessions). 

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Photo: Katja @capturedbykatja_

Julius Caesar runs at Reading Abbey Ruins from 3^rd to 20^th June 2026. For further information, visit the theatre’s website here.