RSC on tour in 2009 with Othello
20 May 2008
The Royal Shakespeare Company will tour Othello, to Coventry, Hackney, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Oxford and Liverpool between January and March 2009. A full schedule can be found at the end of the release.
The production is directed by Kathryn Hunter, whose work as a director includes Everyman for the RSC, Pericles and The Comedy of Errors (Globe Theatre), Mr Puntila and His Man Matti (Almeida, Albery, Traverse) and Glory of Living by Rebecca Gilman for the Royal Court.
As an actor Kathryn's credits include Fragments and Faraway directed by Peter Brook (Young Vic, Bouffes du Nord, Paris); The Bee and The Diver directed by Hideki Noda (Soho Theatre, Tokyo Setagaya); Whistling Psyche by Sebastian Barry (Almeida). Title roles in The Devils, Rose Tattoo, Yerma and King Lear directed by Helena Kaut Howsen; Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew and the title role in Richard III (Globe Theatre); Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (Watermill); Lady Macbeth (Leicester Haymarket); Mother Courage, Electra directed by Nancy Meckler; Cassandra in Women of Troy directed by Katie Mitchell; The Visit with Complicite at the National Theatre, for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress. Other credits with ground-breaking theatre company, Complicite: Foe, Out of the House Walked a Man, Anything for a Quiet Life, Help I Am Alive and The Winter's Tale. Film credits include Baby of Macon by Peter Greenaway, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Sally Potter's Orlando and All or Nothing by Mike Leigh.
Kathryn Hunter said:
"With a superlative ensemble of actors we will seek to re-examine the heart of Othello, arguably the most topical and accessible tragedy from Shakespeare's major phase as a dramatist. At the centre of the play is a marriage between two people of different cultures. Their union could signal a celebration of difference, a triumph of love over prejudice and intolerance. But their union is destroyed. 'Speak of me as I am' says Othello on the threshold of death. But who is Othello? Who is the other? How do we accept the other? As Ben Okri says 'rejecting is easy... but facing the complexity of others, their history, their raw humanity - that takes courage.'"
Taking on the title role is Patrice Naiambana, who, as a member of the RSC 's Histories acting ensemble, has recently appeared as the Earl of Warwick in Henry VI, Henry IV, Henry V and (as the Ghost of Warwick) in Richard III, both in Stratford and at the Roundhouse in London. Many will also remember him as Aslan in the RSC 's stage adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Patrice played Gower in Kathryn Hunter's production of Pericles at the Globe.
Marcello Magni - co-founder of Complicite – is director of movement and also plays Roderigo. Marcello worked with Kathryn Hunter on the RSC production of Everyman.
Michael Gould, who plays Iago recently appeared in Women of Troy at the National Theatre and The Ugly One for the Royal Court .
Jeremy Adams , RSC producer, said:
"Touring is a hugely important part of the RSC 's work to connect people with Shakespeare. We're delighted Othello will travel the country giving audiences everywhere a chance to experience Shakespeare live. People will be able to catch the show a stone's throw from our Stratford home (where we continue to perform at The Courtyard Theatre) at the Warwick Arts Centre, and just down the M40 in Oxford. We're also returning to our regular venue, Northern Stage, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and, following on from our successful tour of Noughts & Crosses, we will also be heading back to Liverpool Playhouse and the Hackney Empire in London ."
The cast also includes: Hannes Flaschberger (Brabantio), Alex Hassell (Cassio), Clive Mendus (Duke of Venice), Osi Okerafor (Soldier), Glyn Pritchard (Gratiano), Robert Vernon (Ludovico), Cath Whitefield (Bianca), Matthew Wilson (Montano) and Miltos Yerolemou (Clown).
The production is designed by Liz Cooke, lighting by Mark Jonathan, movement by Marcello Magni, music by Stephen Warbeck and sound by Ian Dickinson.
Further information
For more information please contact:
Dean Asker
RSC Press Office
01789 412660
dean.asker@rsc.org.uk
Or
Nada Zakula
RSC Press Office
01789 412622
nada.zakula@rsc.org.uk
Othello
Directed by Kathryn Hunter
National Press Night:
Thursday 5 February, 7.30pm
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
Tour Schedule
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
Friday 30 January – Saturday 7 February 2009
(National Press Performance: Thursday 5 February, 7.30pm)
www.warwickartscentre.co.uk
Hackney Empire, London
Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 February 2009
Box Office: 020 8985 2424
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
Northern Stage, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 February 2009
Box Office: 0191 230 5151
www.northernstage.co.uk
Oxford Playhouse
Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 February 2009
Box Office: 01865 305305
www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Liverpool Playhouse
Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 March 2009
Booking open from December 2008
Box Office: 0151 709 4776
www.everymanplayhouse.com
