Matthew d'Ancona's Culture: This Othello is a Tour de Force
Tom Morris’s outstanding production features Toby Jones delivering an extraordinary portrayal of Iago, the best performance of the character I have witnessed.
"Othello is a being essentially large and grand, towering above his fellows, holding a volume of force which in repose ensures pre-eminence without an effort, and in commotion reminds us rather of the fury of the elements than of the tumult of common human passion."
— AC Bradley, Shakespearean scholar
This description aligns well with David Harewood’s portrayal of Othello in Morris’s exceptional staging. Harewood returns to the role he first played at the National Theatre in 1997, marking a historic moment as the first Black actor cast in this role there. His Othello embodies immense dignity—a Venetian general with mythic achievements—making his psychological downfall all the more powerful on stage.
Caitlin FitzGerald’s Desdemona is portrayed not as a passive ingénue but as a woman deeply in love, who openly expresses frustration as their marriage faces deadly threats from deceit and manipulation (“O, these men, these men!”).
"O, these men, these men!"
— Desdemona, expressing her exasperation
At the center of the production is Toby Jones’s remarkable Iago, a performance unmatched in power and nuance.
Author's summary: This production of Othello excels through stellar performances by Toby Jones and David Harewood, offering a nuanced, powerful retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy.