Julius Caesar Cast Bio | Freddie

Ahead of the run, we’ve been interviewing the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School actors cast to play alongside theatre professionals, Julian Glover and Lynn Farleigh in Julius Caesar.

Here we get to know Freddie, one of the Theatre School’s talented rising stars.

Freddie Bowerman
Brutus

BOVTS: The One in I Am The Wind (Directors’ Cuts, Wardrobe Theatre); Howie Newsome/Mr Carter in Our Town, 2nd Lt. Ralph Clark in Our Country’s Good, Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice, Sparkish in The Country Wife, John Knox in Vivat! Vivat Regina!, Michael in Festen, Alan Strang in Equus. Pre BOVTS: Norman in The Norman Conquests (Oxford Playhouse); Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night (OUDS/Thelma Holt International Tour); Delahay in Another Country (Oxford Playhouse); Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice, Jack Brennan in Frost/Nixon (Oxford Union), O’Brian in 1984 (Keble O’Reilly Theatre); Bingley/Wickham in Pride and Prejudice, Anthony Eden in Killing Hitler (all Keble O’Reilly Theatre); Harry Villiers in POSH (Oxford Union).

Where are you from and how did you get into acting?
I'm originally from Chichester in West Sussex but I spent many years living in Kampala, Uganda. I was always quite a manic, performative kid, escaping into my imaginings and the best channel for that was always the stage. I acted through school and was a member of the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre and (briefly) the Bristol Old Vic Young Company before heading to Oxford for university - where I did as much acting as possible around my studies and everything else.

Who are you playing in Julius Caesar and what challenges have you faced in that role?
I'm playing Brutus. He's a man torn between love and principle, desperately trying to do the right thing and be true to himself as his world starts to disintegrate, this kind of internal strife is a wonderful challenge for a performer. Equally, the Brutus we hear being described by the other characters, the noble, saintly image, is not really the man we meet in the play itself where he faces circumstances of unprecedented agitation and grief. The challenge then is one of striking the balance between Brutus' Stoic ideals and his human weaknesses, retaining audience sympathy and interest whilst driving the action of the play.

What’s your favourite thing about training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School?
The school has a very close-knit, nurturing atmosphere, it really does feel like a big family. There's so much love and support and that's vital for a learning environment where you're being pushed to expose yourself and be vulnerable in front of your peers.

How does it feel to be taking the Bristol Old Vic stage in your graduating show?
It's such a privilege. It feels like the true culmination of our two or three years training in Bristol, in the school's spiritual home, where our passion and technique will be channeled and tested.

This June we reunite with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School to present Shakespeare’s riveting political drama Julius Caesar. For more info and to book tickets, click here.