Othello Media Release

A BEAUTIFUL LOVE DESTROYED

The Citizens Theatre brings you Shakespeare’s great domestic tragedy, Othello.  A dynamic new interpretation from Artistic Director, Guy Hollands, it will combine a contemporary staging with a faithful rendering of the text.

By placing the villainous Iago centre stage, Hollands’ production promises to probe our capacity for petty jealousies and revenge.  The production will explore the notion of Othello as a politician, rising to the top against the odds, as well as allowing us to revel in the sheer wickedness of Iago’s manipulations.   

Guy Hollands directed the Citizens production of Hamlet in 2007 and his other work for the main stage includes The Wizard of Oz, Waiting for Godot and Ice Cream Dreams.  Most recently Guy has directed two new commissions for children and young people, Liar and Museum of Dreams. 

Designer Philip Witcomb has created a stylishly austere world in which to play out the tale, with natural textures, taking inspiration from sources as diverse as Cypriot citadels and Italian fashion houses.  His recent work for stage in Scotland includes Educating Rita (Citizens Theatre) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf (Dundee Rep). 

The title role will be played by Jude Akuwudike, who has an impressive Shakespeare pedigree including roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre.  He has also wowed London audiences for his roles in innovative work, most recently in the acclaimed Iya-ile, from African theatre company Tiata Fahodzi. Jude last performed in Scotland in 1994 in the Traverse’s Edinburgh Fringe production of Poor Super Man, and prior to that in John Clifford’s A Light in the Village in 1991, also with the Traverse.

Arch-nemesis Iago will be played by Andy Clark, who earned rave reviews for his portrayal of Hamlet in our 2007 production and recently appeared in the sell-out production, The Last Witch, at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.

Cast also includes Philip Cairns, Sarah Haworth, Pauline Knowles, Billy Mack, Grant O’Rourke, Mairi Phillips, Mark Prendergast and Andrew Scott-Ramsay.

This is a rare opportunity to see Othello professionally staged, and the first time that it has been performed by the Citizens Theatre company for over 40 years. 

A Citizens Theatre Company production of Topdog/Underdog is running concurrently in the Circle Studio.  This show is part of the Black History Month programme of events held throughout October in Glasgow.

ENDS

To arrange interviews, press tickets or for any other requests please contact:
Cat McNaught, Marketing & Communications Officer
0141 418 6233 / cat@citz.co.uk

Or contact my colleagues in marketing: Alison Martin, 0141 418 6235/ alison@citz.co.uk or Helen Black, 0141 418 6272 / Helen.black@tag-theatre.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

OTHELLO
Wed 21 October – Sat 14 November
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Guy Hollands
Designed by Philip Witcomb
Lighting Design by Kai Fischer

LISTINGS
Wed 21 October - Sat 14 November, 7.30pm
(no performances Sundays or Mondays)
Previews: Wednesday 21 & Thursday 22 February, 7.30pm
Matinee: Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29 October, 1.30pm, Saturday 7 November, 2pm.
Audio Described Performance: Thursday 29 February, 7.30pm
Captioned Performance: Wednesday 4 November, 7.30pm
Signed Performance: Thursday 5 November, 7.30pm

PRESS NIGHT: Friday 23 October, 7.30pm

Ticket Prices: £9.50 - £17 (concessions available)
Previews: £4, Cheap Tuesdays: £7
Box Office 0141 429 0022 / WWW.CITZ.CO.UK

CAST
Jude Akuwudike - Othello
Phillip Cairns - Cassio
Andy Clark - Iago
Sarah Haworth - Desmonda
Pauline Knowles - Emilia
Billy Mack - Brabantio
Grant O’Rourke - Duke
Mark Prendergast - Roderigo
Andrew Scott-Ramsay - Lodovico
Mairi Phillips - Bianca

With Chris McCann

Return to Press