Isn’t Othello responsible for setting up negative stereotypes about black men? Isn’t Desdemona a bit shallow? And don’t all the best lines go to Iago anyway?
Welcome to Nothello, an absurdist, anarchic, insightful and witty new play from the Belgrade Theatre. Join us on an increasingly meta deep-dive into Shakespeare’s Othello, from the perspective of Othello and Desdemona’s unborn twins, exploring the play’s legacy and what it means to be of mixed-heritage.
Maybe we can imagine a version of Othello for today, where it’s not a tragedy anymore but a romance. Where Othello and Desdemona can start all over again, full of love and possibility – full of hope and wonder.
Nothello is the final production in the Belgrade Theatre’s programme of work for Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, and will feature a mixed-heritage chorus of people from across the city.
Cast and Creatives
Aimee Powell (Desdeknownow), Harris Cain (Nothello), Rayyah McCaul (Desdemona/Emilia/Cathy), Gabriel Akamo (Othello/Otis), Alex Scott Fairley (Iago/Colin)
Mojisola Adebayo (Playwright), Justine Themen (Director), Joelle Ikwa (Assistant Director), Simon Kenny (Designer), Ola Animashawun (Dramaturg), Ben Ormerod (Lighting Designer), Arun Ghosh (Composer and Sound Designer), Shaun Cope (Movement Director), Una May Olomolaiye (Songsmith), Victoria Williams (Voice Coach).
Community Cast
Reya Bird, Annalise Brown, Shalondie Clarke, Hannah Farmer, Raheem Qadiri, Raysheenah Qadiri, Carly Smith, Maia Smith, Serena – Summer Wilson, Natalie Murray, Collette Bardell, Sascha Bernard, Christopher Old, Jason Riley, Dan Bailey, Eric Hodgkins, Iskander Fakhritdinov, Nathan Holden, Elaine Barrett, Carol Darmon, Lorraine Murray, Sherrie Edgar, Amelia Clark.