Xanthe and Ania Y7 Headington Rye School: Roman Forum - a play

We chose to write our play about a Roman forum because we were inspired by learning about Roman culture in Latin. The Roman forum was the hub of day to day life in Rome, where both rich and poor alike took part in gladiatorial combats, law courts, meetings, and was lined with shops and market stalls. Julius Caesar and his successor Augustus Caesar were the real pioneers of the Roman forum, having realised that it often became overcrowded so built a larger space.
Caesar also made the real life Senate building in 44 BC, though it was finished by Augustus in 29 BC. However, this was mainly built on the ideas of Julius Caesar. Augustus- represented by our fictional young hopeful architect Marcus- created the Temple of Divus Iulius using the new arch of Augustus to add to the forum. It also represents our fictional freedman Julius, who was one of the slaves that helped build the Forum.
Having learned about the forum and its significance in the Roman community, we thought that this was a perfect plot to represent the revolutionization of the forum, but also the wealth divide at the time. While some people possessed thousands of denarii, around 99% of Rome’s population were living in poverty. Lucia, our fictional meat vender, had to work to support her father and siblings despite her being a woman, who would classically not work. This play however is to celebrate the success of young architects who helped to create the forum we know today.

Set in Ancient Rome, in a Roman Forum. Marcus is a young architect and Lucia is the daughter of a poor meat seller. Julius uses an old battered stick to walk as he once injured his leg under a collapsing pillar. Tiberius is thought to be a member of a rebel group who goes against Roman law.

Act 1:

The stage is set with stalls. It is bustling with people. There are merchants haggling over the prices of slaves, workers rushing about, people in togas, and gladiators preparing to fight. However, there are half-finished buildings and structures that are still being built.

Marcus, an eager young architect, jumps excitedly, holding some scrolls.

Marcus: (to his friend Lucia) This is it! My design for the Forum! This very Forum! Just imagine it, a space for everyone, the rich and the poor, to gather together without fear. This, my friend, is the start of a greater life!

Lucia: (with a skeptical look, calling out from her stall that is selling cuts of meat.) You said that last time, when you disturbed the senators’ meeting in the Senate House. You said that your ‘new idea’ would be the new symbol of unity, but where did that get us? The rich get to sit in their marble halls, and grand gardens, and the poor, well, we’re stuck with this! (Gestures to the surrounding chaos of the Forum, before ravishingly cutting some meat with her knife)

Marcus shakes his head.

Marcus: (with confidence) No, Lucia, this is the one. This one will be different. A new space - not just for the wealthy and the politicians, but for us common people too. A place for equal democracy, for sharing, for a true community. This is the one. I'm going to build this so that it will change Rome as we know it forever!

Julius, a retired architect who had seen too many building projects fail to live up to their promises, comes closer.

Julius: (holding his back) Young man, you dream too much. Rome is already a community. A great one. It’s been built by the sweat and blood of people like my brother, who was a worker before he died from exhaustion. Or was it a heart disease? Either way, people are going to suffer. A building won’t change that.

A passer-by worker nods in agreement.

Worker: Aye, you can design and build all of the pretty columns you want, but guess what? It’s us workers that actually create them. Without us, your dreams of ‘an amazing future’ are just dust. These stones that we carry around on our backs each day, (he gestures to his back with his head) they don’t care about your ideas - they care about who’s paying for them.

Marcus: (frustrated but determined) You don’t understand! If we create a new space, something that’s lasting - a space that is designed to bring people together - it must and will force a change!

Lucia: (with a voice full of concern) Marcus, you must listen. The gods will not look kindly on a space that disregards their will. The old ways, the old temples with steps, everything…these are sacred.

Marcus: But-

Julius: We’re sorry, old chap. But it’s true. If you change our way, the gods will be angry.

Tiberius, a mean citizen who has a dangerous vision for Rome’s future, enters from the back of the stage, a fire burning in his eyes.

Tiberius: The gods? The Senate? The old ways? (He laughs bitterly) This is comedy!

Marcus: Is that so?

Tiberius: When you poor are working hard for barely any money, us rich aristocrats get to sit in our fancy villas! Your ‘buildings’ only serve to glorify them. What we need is not more useless marble and stone, but revolution! Tear down their symbols of power! Who cares about gods? They don’t even help us anymore. Build for the people!

Lucia: Get out, Tiberius.

Tiberius: Alright, alright, I’m going, I'm going. But I will come back to discuss this matter even more!

Tiberius exits the stage.

Julius: (turns to Marcus) If I were you, I would go to the Temple of Mercury, and pray to him for success in your business, though I don’t support it. Just an idea.

Marcus: Alright. I’ll visit the Temple of Mercury, the Temple of Fortuna for good luck, and the Temple of Jupiter, for help with major decisions. Hopefully the gods will give me what I need.

Marcus exits the stage. Julius and Lucia shrug their shoulders, and carry on working/snoozing in the sun. There is a moment of loudness as merchants haggle for prices of slaves, and so on.

Marcus bursts in.

Julius: So?

Lucia: Did the gods respond to your offerings?

Marcus: Yes, well, kind of. It was the temples that actually inspired me. When I was offering food to the gods, I noticed the intricate stone carvings in the walls, and I realised that maybe my new world is a bit plain, and needs some of that. I’ve noted that an aqueduct nearby will please everyone. Also, a sloped roof with a triangular point looks much better, though of course I will keep them as arches.

The worker walks past the other way again.

Worker: (sarcastically) Oh excellent, more heavy stone to carry. What now?

Marcus: Oh, don’t worry, Gareth, this next load may be heavy to carry, but I invented something else. Opus Caementicium, which is Roman concrete. It is a lighter, much more versatile material to carry, and the easy thing is that it’s easier to shape, which means that you can go home to your family after a couple of hours work, instead of every day non stop.

Worker: (pauses and looks at Marcus with a raised eyebrow) Roman concrete, you say? (Chuckles) Lighter, huh? And you really think it’s going to save us time? Save us from the endless back-breaking work? (Crosses arms) Is it just another idea from some architect who’s never carried a stone?

Marcus: (smiling, eager to convince) It’s not just an idea, Gareth. It’s a solution. It’s durable, cheaper, and lighter. Imagine, you could carry half the weight and still get the same strong walls. The work won’t be as hard, and the buildings will be just as lasting.

Worker: Eh, Marcus. I think you're onto something.

The worker exits the stage, humming a tune under his breath.

Julius: (wincing as he adjusts himself) Ah, concrete… You know, when I was your age, we didn’t have fancy concrete. We just had stone, and I carried it on my back for miles… and if you ask my back, it still carries the burden of all those years…

Lucia: Then maybe it’s time you let the stone go, Julius.

Julius: I would, but it’s more loyal than most people I know.

Lucia: (Skeptical but curious) But is it really that simple, Marcus? We’re talking about buildings that have stood for centuries, made with stone and marble. You think this… concrete… can replace that?

Marcus: (passionately) Yes, I do! It won’t replace everything, but it could just possibly change how we build. We can create strong lasting structures, without breaking bones! Think of it! Aqueducts, walls, even houses! Just wait, Lucia! My new concrete will change everything!

Lucia: And here I thought the only thing that would change would be the weight of the stones I have to carry. Could you build me a lighter meat stall while you’re at it?

Julius: Apparently we need a revolution.

Lucia: Ah yes, another revolution. Let me guess, this time the poor are going to win the lottery and everyone gets a free toga?

Julius: (shaking his head) Oh Lucia, stop with your dry humour. (Turns to address Marcus) But you’ve forgotten one thing, young man. Stone has a legacy. Our legacy. The Senate won’t trust your concrete thing. They’ll want marble, gold, and things that make them feel eternal.

Tiberius pops up behind them.

Tiberius: (smirking and sneering) Eternal? You do realise that marble and gold won’t save anyone, old man.

Julius: Eh? Who are you calling an old man?

Tiberius: You, you nitwit. You're an old man! But hear me out. The rich think that they're untouchable because of all of their fancy stones. But I see through it. You want a true change, Marcus, and you’ll have to have something much more than concrete and arches. You’ll need to tear down the old ways. Start fresh.

Lucia: (angrily) Tiberius! Not again! Enough with this nonsense!

Julius: You’ll do nothing, Tiberius. If there’s one thing that Rome knows, it’s the weight of its own history. Just because you want to be better than Marcus, it doesn’t mean that you can erase that history with your fire and fury.

Tiberius: Fine. Suit yourself.

He exits the stage once more.

Marcus: (holding his ground) It’s not about erasing history, Julius, but evolving. Rome can’t stay stuck in the past. We need to move forward, and concrete just happens to be the beginning. I’m ready. Rome is changing, and I’m going to be part of that change. Whether it is with buildings, or the way we think, whatever it takes.

Julius: (stroking his beard) Back in my day, we didn’t need new-fangled concrete. We had good, sturdy stone. If you wanted to build something, you just... pounded the stone with a big hammer and yelled at it until it listened.

Marcus: And that worked?

Julius: Well, mostly. You’d get a few cracks in the walls, but hey, it was character.

The stage goes quiet as Marcus stands tall, his resolve clear, while the others reflect on his words. The distant sounds of the bustling Forum fade into the background.

End of Act 1

Act 2

Takes place in the Forum, a few months after the descrizione was made. Workers are busy, all with the construction of the new structures. Marcus is overseeing his work, making slight adjustments here and there to the plan.

Marcus is currently standing near a partially completed arch, surrounded by workers. He’s instructing them on how to fix a bending column.

Marcus: (pointing to the column) See this? The column is bending, because the arch isn’t holding. This is because we’ve got weak walls behind it, and the load It is holding up is too much. The foundation needs to be redone, with more reinforcement.

He kneels, picking up a chunk of broken stone that came from the column.

Worker 1: (grumbling) Must we? This took us a whole 4 days!

Worker 2: We can’t do this again.

Worker Gareth: Yeah, Marcus. The heavy stones are too weighty to lift for another 10 days.

Everyone ponders, before nodding in agreement.

Marcus: Listen. The weight of these arches are pulling the columns apart, therefore bending them. However, if we reinforce the walls with concrete, we might just stop the collapse.

Worker 2: Concrete? We’ve never used this stuff before. We only use stone - it’s the foundation of what we can trust. Not this new Roman concrete of yours.

Marcus: (smiling eagerly) Trust me, this will work. Concrete is stronger than you think, and this new invention is lighter. Imagine the heavy labour of carrying these heavy stones all day that we can save. (He pulls out a scroll with a model of the structure in it, explaining the design) See? Well shape the concrete to fit, and it’ll hold everything together. (Points to the sketch) Strong walls mean stronger arches.

Worker 1: So we have to trust this new idea, and pretend that Rome isn’t in our hands?

Marcus: (confidently). Yes. I’ve done work on other buildings. (He gestures around him). The Romans are great- we are pioneers! We lead the way! Concrete will change the world, our future. So let’s try it.

Lucia: (from her stall, watching with concern) Are you sure Marcus? You may need to think about this before you put this idea into action. We’re talking about changing the way we think about building.

Marcus: It’s okay, Lucia. Rome will remember that we dare to change the world. Concrete, arches, aqueducts… this is just the beginning.

Julius: (holding his back) This is madness, boy. The Senate won’t trust you with this decision. They’ll think you're crazy.

Marcus: It doesn’t matter what they think. It’s what we do that makes us change. Rome is the greatest city in the world! Just think- one day, everyone will look at these columns and say, ‘That’s where Marcus the Great changed the future!’

Lucia: More likely they’ll say, ‘That’s where Marcus tripped and fell in front of the Senate for the third time!’

Marcus rolls his eyes. He walks off the stage with his scrolls, whistling, before shouting:

Marcus: Don’t worry, everyone! Rome will be great again!

He exits. Lucia turns to Julius with a sceptical look.

Lucia: I think that this will not end well.

Julius: No, the column that crippled my leg was made of reliable stone, so can you imagine what would happen with this crumbling concrete?
The impact will be worse than an earthquake!

Lucia: I think that we need more faith in him, but where will we get that from?

Julius: We don’t.

Lucia: Julius! We need more faith in him!

Julius: I don’t see why we should have faith in him.

He sits down heavily and ungracefully onto one of the smooth marble steps to a large villa. Tiberius comes out of the villa.

Tiberius: (rudely) Given up already on your friend, Julius?

Julius: I just don’t want him to make the same mistakes that I did. (He glances at Tiberius) Go away Tiberius. If he needs anything it is not your rude anti- government comments.

Lucia sits down next to Julius and Tiberius walks out smirking. The two friends admire the half-finished columns.

Lucia: Perhaps this will work out, after all.

End of act 2

Act 3

This is now several decades later. Marcus is now an old man, weathered by time. Yet he still works in his ‘office’ surrounded by blue prints. Suddenly, his assistant enters with a scroll, eagerly.

Assistant: (handing him the scroll) Master, read this!

Marcus takes the scroll and peers at it.

Assistant: It’s a message from Pompeii, Master Marcus. They need your help there. They want you to build something, because the work you’ve done here has impressed them! They’ve heard your success with the Forum.

Marcus: (his eyes darting to the elegant script on the scroll) Pompeii? Wow. But it says here that they want me there by Monday? That’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?

He sets down the scroll, and runs his back, sighing.

Assistant: It’s wonderful news, master! But maybe… it’s for the best if you don’t go. You’ve worked so hard, getting Rome up to where we are. You should take a break.

Marcus: You're right. I could use a break. My back’s not what it used to be. I guess I will go in two weeks instead, as the Colosseum is about to open soon with the games- there is going to be so much happening here in Rome. Please write to them and say that I shall come in two weeks time.

His assistant nods.

Assistant: Very good, Master. Two weeks it is.

Marcus looks out of the window at the bustling Forum, and reflects on his life’s work.

Marcus: (muttering to himself) Yes, two weeks will be enough time to rest.

Two weeks later.

News of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius is spreading. The stage is filled with hurried movements as people rush around; news of Pompeii’s destruction has reached Rome.

A messenger enters, frantically waving a scroll.

Messenger: (breaking heavily) Master! Did you hear the news?

Marcus: (looking up from his desk) No, no. I haven’t. What news?

Messenger: It’s terrible! The eruption!

Marcus: What eruption? Has money gone haywire - did the prices go up? Has Julius’s anger got the better of him, and he is telling off the workers again? Poor Gareth and his friends, I’d better go out and help them.

Marcus stands up.

Messenger: No! Pompeii- it’s gone!

Marcus sits down heavily

Marcus: Gone? But… I…. I was supposed to be there now!

Messenger: Yes, Master Marcus. They needed you- too late. Pompeii was buried under ash. No one would’ve survived.
There is a long pause as both of them think. Marcus sits still, the realisation of the loss sinking in.

Marcus: (staring into the distance) I was supposed to be there… Now all they have is ashes. Just my luck.
Assistant: Master, it wasn't your fault.

Marcus: (softly) I should’ve gone. I should have- (pauses, then shakes his head) No. Perhaps this was my fate. I couldn’t have known. Nobody could’ve known. But then again, if I had gone, I'd be buried under that ash instead of sitting here with my broken back and scrolls.

Marcus looks out to the audience. The messenger bows his head, and exits the stage.

Marcus: So Rome stands. But time will eventually take it too. All we can do is leave something worth remembering. I shall continue to build my world. Maybe the walls I’ve raised won’t stand forever, but at least the thoughts that inspired them… at least those will endure.

He exits the stage.

End of act 3