Source: AHDS Performing Arts. © Presenting Iago as a black man has definitively excited the critics. Their love has no match, but their doom is spelled by non other than Othello's personal confidant Iago, a master manipulator, who believes that a trained loyal soldier like him is more deserving of a good life than a foreign mercenary. Desdemona sails with her husband, taking with them her companion Emilia, who is also Iago's wife, and Othello's lieutenant Michael Cassio, newly-promoted … 212481) Othello British Black and Asian Shakespeare Database by the University of Warwick , funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council 2012-2015, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . The first performance of this production took place on 9 April 1999. Let’s now take a look at how Othello’s story was presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Goodbye doesn’t have to be forever - your administrator can easily renew your subscription via dteducation@digitaltheatre.com, so you can return to the DT+ community. By William Shakespeare.Presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company.Directed by Tim Supple. On April 28, 1851, he performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon. They include Richard II with David Tennant, Hamlet and Othello. This playbill includes a biography that blends fact and fiction: tales that his grandfather was a Senegalese emperor overthrown in a mutinous uprising appear to be sensational fiction put forward by Aldridge himself. Othello the Moor, a general employed by the Venetian state, has secretly married Desdemona, a daughter of the senator Brabantio. Playing up the blackness of Iago, however, has drastically diluted the uniqueness of Othello and made it much more difficult for the audience to grasp the meaning of the play. Explore information and resources for teachers and learners on Othello, Our productions of Othello from 1979, 1989, 2004 and 2015, Studying Othello? The Royal Shakespeare Company ran Othello on the main Stratford stage in 1999, with Ray Fearon as hero. Starring Hugh Quarshie and Lucian Msamati. Othello, a heroic aging Moroccan mercenary marries beautiful and loving Desdemona, daughter of a general. Othello, Royal Shakespeare Company (1961) Related Person: Franco Zeffirelli. Royal Shakespeare Company: Othello - Live Synopsis. Othello is immediately ordered to the Venetian colony of Cyprus to repel a threatened Turkish invasion. The camera offers close-ups and overhead ‘bird’s eye’ shots that would not be available in the theatre. Once in Cyprus, Iago plants the suspicion in Othello's mind that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio. Olivier was among the last white actors to be greatly acclaimed as Othello, although the role continued to be played by such performers as Donald Sinden at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1979–1980, Paul Scofield at the Royal National Theatre in 1980, Anthony Hopkins in the BBC Television Shakespeare production (1981), and Michael Gambon in a stage production at Scarborough directed by Alan … 300+ video teaching resources, with industry leaders - including interviews, lectures, workshops and documentaries. Please either update your browser to the newest version, or choose an alternative browser – visit. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Iqbal Khan’s adaptation was the first at the RSC to cast a … 350+ written teaching resources, by industry leaders - including lesson plans, concise introductions, play texts, curriculum-mapped revision guides and director notebooks. By using this site you agree that we may store and access cookies on your device. Othello was written around 1604 and follows the story of the Moor through love, jealousy and deceit. The Royal Shakespeare Company's Othello, which began previews May 26, officially opens June 3. Chrome 83.0, so you may experience some difficulties using this website. When in 1989 the Royal Shakespeare Company's ex-artistic director Trevor Nunn suggested a production of Othello as the last production at the old tin hut called "The Other Place" in Stratford-upon-Avon, the management hesitated, even though the renowned opera baritone Willard White was to make his dramatic debut as the Moor. Unlock his language using the same techniques our actors use in rehearsals. Othello (Royal Shakepeare Company) available in Blu-ray, DVD Ship This Item — Qualifies for Free Shipping Buy Online, Pick up in Store is currently unavailable, but … Photographer: Tom Holte. X. Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Iqbal Khan’s modern-dress production takes its time but finally delivers a powerful punch, with Iago as … Othello Reviews Jun 12, 2015 Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Hugh Quarshie and Lucian Msamati in the RSC's Othello. The company's home is in Stratford-upon-Avon, where it has redeveloped its Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres … Then you'll love our new SHAKESPEARE LEARNING ZONE! They wake Brabantio in the middle of the night with the news of his daughter's elopement. Source Info. Iago, after murdering his own wife, is left to the justice of the Venetian state. See samples at the site Blog. Visit the SHAKESPEARE LEARNING ZONE to discover loads of facts, videos and info about the play, The RSC is a registered charity (no. Othello is the first of the BBC’s Shakespearian ‘Culture in Quarantine’ series to exploit the opportunities offered by a television broadcast. Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon The stereotype of the ‘noble Moor’ is dismantled in Iqbal Khan’s shrewd, modern-dress production starring Hugh Quarshie and Lucian Msamati … The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. One of his most heartbreaking tragedies, Shakespeare’s tale of love, jealousy and deceit is brought to life in this ground-breaking production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Changing the racial dynamics of this central relationship will introduce an entirely new perspective on this 400-year-old text. (Through Sunday. He is an honorary associate director at … Offers. Brabantio takes the case to the senate where, learning that she has married Othello of her own accord, he disowns his daughter. Among the exotic airs and mysterious shadows of Cyprus, newly married Moorish general Othello finds himself the … Read Full Synopsis Cast + Crew Previous Cast Members More Cast Members. Discover loads of facts, videos and in-depth information about Shakespeare's plays. One of his most heartbreaking tragedies, Shakespeare’s tale of love, jealousy and deceit is brought to life in this ground-breaking production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Desdemona intervenes on Cassio's behalf but her pleas to Othello for his reinstatement simply convince Othello further that Cassio is her lover. Production photography by Keith Pattison © RSC. This Royal Shakespeare Company production of 'Othello' is very good, noble and bold, staged and performed with passion, intensity and honesty. The Royal Shakespeare Company has cast a black actor in the role of notorious villain Iago for the first time. Royal Shakespeare Company Othello, 1961 Act V. Meanwhile, Roderigo has begun to suspect Iago is not quite the friend he seems. Iago, a lower-ranking officer, nursing resentment against Othello, enlists the help of Rodorigo, a disappointed suitor of Desdemona. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS: Comedy. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Iqbal Khan’s adaptation was the first at the RSC to cast a Black actor, Lucian Msamati, in the role of Iago. Iago acquires a treasured handkerchief that belonged to Desdemona and uses it as 'proof' of the affair. Othello (Hugh Quarshie) and Iago (Lucian Msamati) in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Othello. With Othello, director Iqbal Khan uses an apparently simple idea to devastating effect. In the fight that ensues, Iago goes undetected and wounds Cassio. Please enable Javascript, for help please visit. Iqbal Khan’s Othello is a haunting rendition of psychological unravelling. The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. In 1997, Patrick Stewart played Othello with the Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington, D.C.) in a "photo negative" production of a white Othello with an otherwise all-black cast. 2015 Directed by Iqbal Khan. 2021 The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and on tour across the UK and internationally. Increasingly maddened by jealousy, Othello orders Iago to kill Cassio and smothers Desdemona himself. Review: Royal Shakespeare Company: Othello. He engineers a drunken brawl for which Cassio is blamed and dismissed by Othello. Read Full Synopsis Cast + Crew Previous Cast Members More Cast Members. Director Ron Daniels brings his sure hand with Shakespeare to Washington, D.C., having previously served as the associate artistic director of the American Repertory Theatre and as artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Other Place Theatre. Call the team via your nearest timezone number: Or, leave a message via dteducation@digitaltheatre.com, Sign in with your Digital Theatre Plus account, If you are a college or university with single sign-on (SSO) select your institution from the dropdown menu below. The Royal Shakespeare Company has made 17 productions available to watch online. Royal Shakespeare Company, Unfortunately we cannot guarantee support for browsers with Javascript disabled, you may experience some difficulties using this website. “Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.”. Khan’s Othello recontextualises the play’s depictions of brutality and injustice. One of his most heartbreaking tragedies, Shakespeare’s tale of love, jealousy and deceit is brought to life in this ground-breaking production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Still Iago persuades him to attack Cassio that night (again, to be able to court Desdemona). We use cookies on this website. This changes in Lucian Msamati’s forthcoming role at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), where he becomes the first Iago to be played by a black actor at the company. Your new subscription will include: 450+ video and audio performances, with all-star casts - across theatre, dance, opera and music. Shakespeare Theatre Company continues its 2015–2016 season with Shakespeare’s Othello, the classic tale of jealousy, duplicity, and destruction. Desdemona sails with her husband, taking with them her companion Emilia, who is also Iago's wife, and Othello's lieutenant Michael Cassio, newly-promoted instead of Iago. Royal Shakespeare Company: Othello -- Encore Synopsis. Iqbal Khan's groundbreaking production for the Royal Shakespeare Company made history by being the first Othello at Stratford to feature a black actor as Iago. PRINCIPAL CAST: Ray Fearon (Othello); Rachel Joyce (Emilia); Richard McCabe (Iago); Zoe Waites (Desdemona). "Ray Fearon, the first black actor to play Othello for the RSC at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, said the play had a lot to say to society in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence murder. Studying Shakespeare? 75 reads; Please offer comments and suggestions on any aspects the site to: Director Hugh Richmond at richmondh77@gmail.com. Unfortunately, payments are no longer supported by Mastercard in your web browser Emilia discloses her husband's plot and Othello, tormented by grief and remorse, kills himself. Tickets $25-48. Royal Shakespeare Company: Othello. It is another example of modern dress being done tastefully and the multi-racial casting (an interest point) was highly effective. See Full Cast + Crew for Royal Shakespeare Company: Othello - Live Features Load More Features Movie Reviews Presented by … Really get to grips with the stories, settings and characters of Shakespeare's plays. With a stage bathed in blue light, a set reminiscent of a gothic church, and songs performed like elegies, Shakespeare’s controversial tragedy undergoes a thematic dismantling. Gershwin Theater, 2350 Turk St., San Francisco. See Full Cast + Crew for Royal Shakespeare Company: Othello -- Encore Features Load More Features Movie Reviews Presented by Rotten Tomatoes. Othello - The Royal Shakespeare Company Othello is the greatest general of his age, but he has enemies plotting in the shadows. Othello is immediately ordered to the Venetian colony of Cyprus to repel a threatened Turkish invasion. Synopsis. Othello Starring Hugh Quarshie One of his most heartbreaking tragedies, Shakespeare’s tale of love, jealousy and deceit is brought to life in this ground-breaking production from … “ our bodies are our gardens, to be able to court Desdemona ) across UK... Tennant, Hamlet and Othello able to court Desdemona ) depictions of and... 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