Casting has been confirmed for a new production of Othello directed by Anthony Almeida, which will tour the UK this autumn. The play relocates Shakespeare’s tragedy to an early 1980s British military outpost amid the Falklands War, offering a fresh context for the classic.

Othello opens at Northern Stage in Newcastle from 11 to 26 September, with a press night on 16 September, before touring Manchester, Northampton, Mold, Glasgow, Derby, and Peterborough. The production is a co-production between Northern Stage, HOME Manchester, and the Citizens Theatre, in association with Royal and Derngate.

Dwane Walcott takes the title role, starring opposite Maanuv Thiara as Iago. Phoebe Smyth, fresh from her graduation at LAMDA, makes her professional theatre debut as Desdemona. The cast also features Rebecca Banatvala as Emilia, WhatsOnStage Award winner Grace Hodgett Young as Bianca, Chris Garner as Brabantio, Will Stanton as Cassio, and Mattieu Sys as Roderigo.

Almeida’s adaptation sets the drama in an isolated military outpost during the Falklands War, shifting the story’s focus to themes of belonging and performance within society. “I don’t think Othello is really a play about jealousy. Jealousy is the symptom,” Almeida explained. He added that the production explores the societal pressures of appearance and professionalism in early 1980s Britain.

The creative team includes designer Natasha Jenkins, lighting designer Sinead Mckenna, sound designer Matthew Tuckey, and video designer Erin Guan. Giaele Mattioli serves as movement, fight, and intimacy director, with Suzie Normand as production manager, Sara Mackenzie as costume supervisor, and Karishma Balani as casting director.

Following its Newcastle run, the production moves to HOME Manchester (30 September to 10 October), Royal and Derngate Northampton (13 to 17 October), Theatre Clwyd in Mold (20 to 24 October), the Citizens Theatre Glasgow (27 October to 7 November), Derby Theatre (10 to 14 November), and New Theatre Peterborough (17 to 20 November).

This Othello reflects a continuing interest in reinterpreting Shakespeare’s works through distinct historical and cultural lenses, underlining the enduring relevance of its core themes.