Sharon D Clarke has said she hopes audiences “come away transformed by visceral power, passion and urgency” after seeing her play Othello.
The 59-year-old actress has been cast in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Shakespeare’s tragedy, which reimagines the titular character as a black lesbian.
It will be directed by Monique Touko.
“It’s an absolute joy to be making my RSC debut in this new production of Othello, working alongside the incredible Monique Touko to present this story of tragic romance for a new generation of audiences,” Clarke told the Press Association.
“I’ve been wanting to do more Shakespeare for a long time, but he didn’t write many compelling, meaty roles for actresses.
“To have the opportunity to bring this production of Othello to the RSC – a company famous the world over for bringing Shakespeare’s plays to contemporary audiences – is really a dream come true.”
She added: “In this production, we see a black lesbian take up space in a male-dominated society where racial tensions pervade.
“Through that lens, we witness Othello and Desdemona’s deep, loving relationship transform from a source of security and sustenance into a poisoned chalice of jealousy, self-doubt and, ultimately, violence.
“This is a play which explores what happens when individuals are pushed to the limit of endurance; a truth which continues to dominate the black experience the world over.
“I hope those new to Othello will come away transformed by its visceral power, passion and urgency and that those familiar with the story, maybe come away with a new perspective on this 400-year-old play.”
The reimagining of Othello – which will run from February 13 to April 3 2027 in the Swan Theatre – is set in a “climate-threatened future in which a black lesbian holds a seat of power”.
The company has said the production reimagines the centuries old story “through the lens of misogynoir, as an unsanctioned marriage perilously crosses boundaries of race, sex and status, allowing jealousy, suspicion and malign intent to close in”.
On screen, Clarke is best known for starring as Lola Griffin in Holby City and as Grace O’Brien in Doctor Who.
She is also a three-time Olivier Award winner – winning the awards for her roles in The Amen Corner, Caroline, or Change, and Death Of A Salesman.
The RSC’s co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said they “wanted to ensure that as many people as possible feel welcome at the RSC through the stories we choose to tell and the artists who tell them”.
The RSC also announced that Rufus Norris will direct the world premiere of Brock’s Mill by Stewart Pringle, while the company will also have its first play for younger audiences – premiering an adaptation of David Litchfield’s children’s book The Bear And The Piano.
“This announcement brings together three very different plays, each of which explore the theme of transformation and how the stories we choose to tell ourselves can help shape the way we see the world and help us navigate our place within it,” Evans and Harvey added.
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