Mark Rylance and André Holland star in William Shakespeare's Othello, directed by Claire van Kampen, at Shakespeare's Globe this summer 2018.
Othello is an all too human story; marked by the domestic intimacy of a chamber piece, it has the feel of a relentless Greek tragedy.
‘Then must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely, but too well.’
Act V, scene 2
The republic of Venice employs General Othello, a self-made man and a Moor, to defend its overseas territories against the Turks. As the Turkish threat gathers and Venetian forces are despatched to Cyprus, the love Othello holds for his new wife becomes a raging, uncontrollable torrent. Iago, a junior officer secretly enraged by Othello, exploits his General’s ambiguous position and ingenuous nature, driving him into a passionate and overpowering jealousy.
The wasteland of death may be both Iago’s goal and his harvest, but the stage belongs to Othello, a man who loved perhaps unwisely and too well.
André Holland (Othello) is best known for his roles in Academy Award-winning films Moonlight and Selma. Theatre credits include Jitney (Broadway), Blue Door (Playwrights Horizons), Wig Out (Vineyard Theatre), The Brother / Sister Plays (Public Theater) and All’s Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare in the Park).
Mark Rylance (Iago) is currently starring in the Globe’s production of Farinelli and the King on Broadway (originally produced under Dominic Dromgoole’s tenure as Artistic Director). Founding Artistic Director of the Globe, Rylance played a multitude of roles including the Countess Olivia in Twelfth Night and Richard in Richard III (Shakespeare’s Globe, West End, Broadway). Further stage credits include Jerusalem (Royal Court, West End) and Boeing-Boeing (West End, Broadway). His screen credits include Wolf Hall, Dunkirk, The BFG and Bridge of Spies.
Claire van Kampen (Nice Fish, Farinelli and the King) was the Globe’s founding Director of Theatre Music, creating both period and contemporary music for approximately 50 of the Globe’s productions.
At Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London until 13 October 2018, book your Othello tickets today!
**Accessible performances:
- Saturday 1 September 14:00 - Audio described performance
- Tuesday 9 October 14:00 - Relaxed performance
- Saturday 6 October 14:00 - Captioned performance
- Friday 21 September 19:30 - Signed performance (BSL)
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