Othello at the RSC full casting announced to join John Douglas Thompson & Will Keen

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced full casting for its new production of Shakespeare’s Othello.

Othello will play the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 11 October to 23 November 2024.

As previously announced, the cast will be led by Tony Award-nominated actor John Douglas Thompson (The Gilded Age, Jitney) as Othello, with Will Keen (Patriots, Wolf Hall, The Crown) as Iago, Juliet Rylance (McMafia, Perry Mason) as Desdemona, and Anastasia Hille (A Winter’s Tale, A Gentleman in Moscow) as Emilia.

Joining them are Al Barclay as Lodovico, Scott Brooksbank as Montano, Ricardo Castro as Messenger, John Paul Connolly as Duke of Venice, Jason Eddy as Sailor, Kevin N Golding as Clown, Edward Hogg as Cassio, Colin Hurley as Brabantio, Madeleine Hyland as Bianca, Graham Mackay-Bruce as Senator, Johan Munir as Officer, Jonathan Oliver as Gratiano, Andrew Price as Senator, Jethro Skinner as Roderigo, and Finlay Paul and Claire Redcliffe in the Ensemble.

This new production is directed by Tim Carroll (Twelfth Night, Richard III), with a creative team that also includes set and costume design by Judith Bowden, lighting design by Paule Constable, composer James Oxley, sound design by Donato Wharton, movement director Alexis Milligan, fight director Kev McCurdy, and casting directors Matthew Dewsbury and Martin Poile.

Director Tim Carroll said in a statement: “It’s a big thing to be asked to direct one of the great plays by one of the great theatre companies. I came into theatre because I wanted Shakespeare to be at the centre of my life, so of course I have always felt a deep affinity with the RSC. It is the world’s meeting place for everyone who loves these miraculous plays. To be in at the beginning of such a profoundly important new chapter in the life of the company is a deep privilege: I am so inspired by Daniel and Tamara’s vision for what the RSC can be. The fact that so many amazing actors have signed on to that vision says everything. I can’t wait to be part of this story.”

Othello is playing in Stratford-upon-Avon from 11 October to 23 November 2024.