Frantic Assembly’s explosive and often violent two-hour production of Othello at the Lyric Hammersmith is exhilarating throughout. Directed by Scott Graham, most of the scenes are depicted in a grubby working class pub with a pool table, fruit machine and grim looking toilet room.
A lot of the Shakespearean dialogue is replaced by stunning choreographed movements with a haunting dance soundtrack by Hybrid. The violent scenes portrayed are exquisitely executed by the performers.
The male performers who are all wearing tracksuits are depicted as an inner city gang. Desdemona wears cycling shorts and has her hair pulled back in a high pony-tail.
The pool table plays a major role throughout the relationship of Othello and Desdemona. It was where he initially woes her. It also doubles up as the marital bed as Michael Akinsulire’s Othello and Chanel Waddock’s Desdemona act out a pivotal intimate scene in a beautifully choreographed movement. It is also used in the final fatal scene between them.
Graham’s direction successfully re-imagines Shakespeare’s Othello in the way that is relatable to a contemporary audience. He uses Shakespeare’s themes of jealousy, betrayal, two-facedness and translates them successfully to a much wider audience.
Othello runs at Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre from 19 Jan – 11 Feb 2023
Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
Othello
