Matthew d'Ancona's Culture: This Othello Is a Tour de Force
Tom Morris’s powerful production of Shakespeare’s Othello finds its core in Toby Jones’s breathtaking portrayal of Iago, a performance that stands as one of the finest ever delivered on the British stage.
“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.”
These words from the great scholar A. C. Bradley perfectly capture the spirit of David Harewood’s Othello. Returning to the role he first played at the National Theatre in 1997—remarkably, the first Black actor ever to do so there—Harewood embodies a general of monumental stature and mythical achievement. His descent into jealousy and despair is rendered with deep nuance and emotional force.
Caitlin FitzGerald’s Desdemona is no fragile innocent. She is a passionate, strong-willed woman, deeply in love yet unafraid to show frustration as deception and jealousy tear her marriage apart.
At the center of this compelling production stands Toby Jones’s Iago—a chillingly intelligent, disturbingly human figure whose manipulation drives the tragedy to its shattering conclusion.
Author’s Summary
Tom Morris’s Othello captivates with Toby Jones’s haunting Iago and David Harewood’s dignified Othello, blending power, passion, and psychological depth into an unforgettable staging.