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Britannicus

(Racine translated) by

Howard Hale

Read by awl on Monday 13th February 2006

 

Agrippina has with ruthless scheming made her son Nero Emperor of Rome, meaning to rule through him. However she senses that he is slipping her grip and prepares for a show-down . He for his part is steeling himself to break from her domination and assert his own personality. The action develops into a deadly battle between possessive mother and resentful son. Triggering the conflict is Nero’s wish to divorce the wife his mother chose for him and marry Junia, a girl in love with Britannicus, his half-brother.

 

A note about the characters’ ages and casting:

Nero was historically 18 and Britannicus 16 at the time of these incidents and Junia corresponding.. Racine, for tragic propriety imagined them a few (but not many) years older. However this does not mean that they need to be played by actors of such tender years (compare Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet etc). These are great and demanding roles of great potential subtlety. As in the case of Shakespeare, whilst a production with really young players can add a valuable dimension, it is far from essential. The important thing is that youth, insecurity, hesitancy, gush and all those kinds of things are conveyed.

There is similar leeway in the older characters.

Agrippina (45-50)
Widow of the Emperor, Claudius
and mother of Nero

Imperious, avid for power, contemptuous, proud, histrionic, inveterate schemer and plotter, stylish and probably sexy, but has arguably sacrificed sexual drive into the thirst for power.

 Carolyn Pertwee

Nero (20)
Emperor

Spoilt, unsure of self, petulant, sadistic, impressionable, a poseur, an embryonic monster

 Phil Gerrard

Narcissus (40+)
Nero’s ‘freed-slave’ advisor and evil genius

Treacherous yet plausible, utterly corrupt and ruthless, a born manipulator,A double-dyed villain in the Iago mould

 Paul Antony-Barber

Junia (18)
A young girl from an unfortunate family. In love with Britannicus, coveted by Nero

A beacon of blazing and courageous integrity in a vile world. Strong and brave albeit shy and reticent.

 Nicola Stuart-Hill

Britannicus (18)
Son of the late Emperor Claudius

Naive, spirited, brave but easily discouraged and disheartened; a Romeo who makes the fatal error of noty trusting his Juliet

 Lewis Rae

Burrhus (50+)
Tutor and political advisor to Nero.
Former soldier and diplomat

Upright, measured, cautious and diplomatic Subordinates all self interest to serving his country. Fearless. Inclined to wishful thinking.Allows himself to become nero’s Spin doctor.

Peter Mair

Albina
lady in waiting

Naive and conventional (as a foil to Agrippina)
Represents ordinary (deceived) people of Rome

Laura Fitzpatrick
Directed by Peter Mair

 

  

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