Gangland Othello

” The Moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest that seem to be so and will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are.”

Iago

Chanel Waddock as Desdemona and Michael Akinsulire as Othello (Photo: Tristram Kenton)

It is a joy to see an appreciative audience of A level students enjoying Shakespeare and Frantic Assembly give them a gripping and physically exciting play full of contemporary relevance and loud rock music.  Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett who founded Frantic Assembly excel at movement which is athletic and thrilling.   

Here Othello is set not in a political or even military setting except that we still know that Othello (Michael Akinsulire) has promoted Cassio (Tim Gill) instead of Iago (Joe Layton). The snooker/pool hall setting reminded me of the great play Black Watch where soldiers emerged from the snooker table in the first scene.  So there is no Cyprus nor Duke of Venice and no one really in charge.  

Cast in Othello (Photo: Tristram Kenton)

Desdemona (Chanel Waddock) is as close to Estuary English as I have ever heard, dressed in shorts and jeans jacket with her hair scraped back, into what used to be known at a Croydon Council facelift.  This accent created incongruity when Emilia and others call Desdemona “My Lady” when Desdemona appears to be from the same class as her servant.   She shouts at her father, ” I am your Door – t – err”.

Othello looks as if he spends most of his life in the gym creating the ultimate body beautiful if muscles are your sort of thing!  This is Othello in a working class setting with not an iota of racism in context other than Desdemona being white and her father Brabantio (Matthew Trevannion) mentioning how he has welcomed Othello into his home. 

Michael Akinsulire as Othello. (Photo: Tristram Kenton)

The preface to the new text of Othello explains that Othello is a local gang leader and Iago’s resentment is based on preferment.  Little is made of the reference to Othello having tupped Emilia (Kirsty Stuart) as Iago’s suspicion. Instead we have no inkling as to why Othello should believe Iago and why Emilia should give the handkerchief to Iago rather than back to Desdemona.  

I think it is excellent that school parties should be brought to Shakespeare with a beautifully lit and throbbing production of dance fighting but I do wish they will also return to Shakespeare’s text to grasp more of the political context and power dynamic.  Is it Brabantio warning Othello that Desdemona might betray him, as she has her father, which sets up his jealousy and willingness to believe Iago?  Othello’s madness is underplayed in this production where violence rules.  

As Othello and Desdemona make love on the pool table you will have to wait to the end to see “the beast with two backs”.  Frantic Assembly’s Othello is a brilliant introduction to the tragedy but please take it further. 

Cast in Othello. (Photo: Tristram Kenton)

Production Notes

Othello

Adapted by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett

Written by William Shakespeare

Directed by Scott Graham

Cast

Starring:

Hannah Sinclair Robinson

Joe Layton

Kirsty Stuart

Matthew Trevannion

Tom Gill

Chanel Waddock

Michael Akinsulire

Oliver Baines

Felipe Pacheco

Creatives

Director: Scott Graham

Designer: Laura Hopkins

Lighting Designers: Natasha Chivers and Andy Purves

Sound Designer: Gareth Fry

 

Information

Running Time: Two hours 15 minutes with an interval

Booking to 11th February 2023

Theatre: 

Lyric Theatre

King Street

Hammersmith

London W6 0QL

Box Office: 020 8741 6850 

Website: lyric.co.uk

Tube: Hammersmith

Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge at the Lyric Hammersmith 

on 25th January 2023

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