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On 1 November 1604 Shakespeare’s company, The King’s Men, first performed Othello before their new patron, James 1, at Whitehall Palace.

Shakespeare was at the height of his powers. The last three years had seen Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, and Richard III. Othello targeted his patron’s interests: the clash of civilizations, the pursuit of power, the nature of evil, and the eternal struggles between both men and women and free will and fate. Devilish Iago schemes to choreograph the destruction of the black mercenary general Othello and his beautiful young white wife Desdemona during a war between Christian and Ottoman civilizations under the hot Mediterranean sun.

Peter King’s ensemble now combines the country’s best young actors with experienced veterans to explore Shakespeare’s range from absurd comedy to awful darkness in Othello, a tragedy of sex, power and death. The towering Tongan actor Anthony Taufa performs Othello while the stunning Annie Last is Desdemona. Can truth prevail over evil lies?

This minimalist and tightly choreographed production strives for an intense clarity of expression. The same team that produced A Cherry Orchard to much acclaim and several Green Room nominations now invite you to experience Othello.