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. Visit the SHAKESPEARE LEARNING ZONE to discover loads of facts, videos and info about the play, The RSC is a registered charity (no. Please either update your browser to the newest version, or choose an alternative browser – visit. 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. 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 … Othello - The Royal Shakespeare Company Othello is the greatest general of his age, but he has enemies plotting in the shadows. 2021 © They wake Brabantio in the middle of the night with the news of his daughter's elopement. "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. Increasingly maddened by jealousy, Othello orders Iago to kill Cassio and smothers Desdemona himself. 300+ video teaching resources, with industry leaders - including interviews, lectures, workshops and documentaries. He engineers a drunken brawl for which Cassio is blamed and dismissed by Othello. 350+ written teaching resources, by industry leaders - including lesson plans, concise introductions, play texts, curriculum-mapped revision guides and director notebooks. Othello, Royal Shakespeare Company (1961) Related Person: Franco Zeffirelli. 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. “Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.”. 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. 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. 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. 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. X. By William Shakespeare.Presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company.Directed by Tim Supple. Emilia discloses her husband's plot and Othello, tormented by grief and remorse, kills himself. Iago, after murdering his own wife, is left to the justice of the Venetian state. Let’s now take a look at how Othello’s story was presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Royal Shakespeare Company's Othello, which began previews May 26, officially opens June 3. It is another example of modern dress being done tastefully and the multi-racial casting (an interest point) was highly effective. 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. Iago, a lower-ranking officer, nursing resentment against Othello, enlists the help of Rodorigo, a disappointed suitor of Desdemona. Brabantio takes the case to the senate where, learning that she has married Othello of her own accord, he disowns his daughter. 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