From Nero to Sunak, leaders have always put on a show for the public. The scholar explores the notorious Roman emperor’s fondness for acting and how the stage became a metaphor for power itself

Performance has always been a part of politics. From a reality TV star in the White House to a man who likes nothing better than clowning on a zipwire, that has been all too evident over the last eight years. To draw parallels between such contemporary figures and Roman emperors might seem a stretch, but the way in which Nero, for instance, approached the role of leader can shed a surprising light on our world today, consumed as we are by questions of authenticity.

One of Nero’s favourite hobbies was acting. This passion apparently started behind the palace walls with some elite amateur dramatics and operatic recitals in front of friends, but it soon developed into full-blown public performances. He would put on a medley of greatest hits from some of the best known plays and shows of the ancient world, accompanied only by a handful of extras to feed him his lines, or a small backing group. The emperor was never likely to be satisfied with playing even the lead part among a cast of regular actors. The spotlight had to be on him alone.

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