Othello

Starry Shakespeare

Two British stars of stage and screen will be taking on the roles in one of Shakespeare's darkest dramatic masterpieces at the New York Theater Workshop, directed by Sam Gold. 007 incumbent Daniel Craig will star as the villainous Iago to David Oyelowo's naive Othello, whispering poison in his ear in a calculated tale of revenge and racism next fall. Oyelowo's star has risen from his beginnings in BBC spy drama Spooks, and was nominated in 2014 for a Golden Globe Award for his role as Dr Martin Luther King in Selma. Craig is the star of the popular James Bond series, with SPECTRE taking the world by storm in 2015.

Director Sam Gold was the toast of the 2015 Tony Awards, winning the coveted Best Director accolade for his work on the surprise musical Fun Home.

The story of Othello

Othello, a motivated and charismatic Moorish general in the Venetian army, and Desdemona, who is half his age and the only daughter of a highly esteemed family, have recently married and are very much in love. When he is appointed leader of a military operation, Othello promotes Cassio, a young and personable officer to help him command the forces.

However, Othello's batman Iago, who was hoping for a promotion himself is bitterly disappointed at the decision. Fuelled by revenge and a racist mistrust of Othello Iago plots against both Othello and Cassio. As Othello's most trusted confidante, Iago whispers suspicion to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair, planting her handkerchief in Cassio's quarters.

When Othello discovers the handkerchief, he is beset by rage and vows revenge, mistakenly believing that Desdemona has betrayed him. Spurred on by Iago, Othello embarks on a destructive course of action that inevitably ends in tragedy for all concerned.