As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of Othello, think about:

• What choices the designer has made for both characters and what that suggests about them. How is their military background shown and can you see why Othello might be dependent on Iago? What production choices help you to believe in this relationship?
• How the relationship between these two soldiers comes across in each production. Who is more powerful and is this always the same?
• Whether some productions are very different or if there are lots of similarities. In the 2004 production, Gregory Doran explored Othello's background and worked with the design team to create costumes for Othello that showed him as both a military general and someone who was separate, and different. What effect do you think this has?

As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of Othello, think about:

• What choices the designer has made for how Othello and Desdemona look, and what that suggests about them. Are they similar to each other or from different worlds? How are their similarities and differences drawn out?
• How the relationship between them comes across in each production. In the 2015 production, Iqbal Khan and actor Hugh Quarshie, who plays Othello, wanted to explore what it was that would drive a rational and confident general to murder someone he really loved. Do you think their connection comes across as genuine in these images? To what extent does Othello love Desdemona? Her understanding of him comes from his stories but how well does she know him and how is this shown on stage?
• Whether some productions are very different or if there are lots of similarities. What connects each of them and how have portrayals changed?

Where would you choose to set a production of Othello and what choices would you make to show the relationship between Othello and Desdemona?

As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of Othello, think about:

• What choices the designer has made for what both characters look like and where the scene is set, and what that suggests about them and their relationship. Emilia acts as Desdemona's maid. What evidence can you see of her lower status in these images? Are there any in which the two women seem more equal? Why do you think that might be?
• How the relationship between Desdemona and Emilia comes across in each production. Emilia offers Desdemona advice in this scene: she talks very openly about how men treat women. Do you think they have a close relationship? How and why does Emilia feel she can say these things to Desdemona?
• Any similarities between the different interpretations.

Where would you choose to set a production of Othello and what choices would you make to help show the mood of this scene?

As you look through the images and photographs from past productions of Othello, think about:

• What choices the designer has made for Venice and how it looks and feels different from Cyprus. Can you identify which images take place in which settings? Several of these photographs show Othello's arrival at the military base in Cyprus. What alerts you to the fact that it is a military camp?
• The costumes and the manner of the characters as they move from the setting of Venice to Cyprus. How does the setting appear different in Venice, with the presentation of the court? In the 2004 production, for example, there are fortified gates along the back of the army base, and the lighting and background are yellow and orange, suggesting heat. What else changes?
• The similarities and differences between the productions.

Where would you choose to set a production of Othello and what choices would you make to help show the differences between the two worlds?