Tag Archives: Othello

Stratford-upon-Avon’s first Black Othellos

It’s 60 years ago, in April 1959, that one of the most important events in the history of the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon took place. Paul Robeson, the great American singer and actor, became the first black Othello in Shakespeare’s town … Continue reading

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Shakespeare in Padua

Just recently we’ve been experiencing cold, grey, depressing weather in the UK and we must all be thinking longingly of long, warm days spent somewhere exotic. It’s just the time, of course, for planning a summer holiday and for the … Continue reading

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Post-war British theatre: Finlay, Gaskill and British Black and Asian Shakespeare

Almost swamped by the understandable outpouring of tributes for the late Sir Terry Wogan, the death of the fine actor Frank Finlay at 89 has passed with little attention this week. Most people remember Finlay for his screen and TV … Continue reading

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Shakespeare online for 2016

Into the new year it’s time for starting something afresh. With this being such a big year for Shakespeare, there are several online courses beginning soon that aim to increase participants’ interest in and knowledge of Shakespeare, and I’ve picked … Continue reading

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Shakespeare and Black History Month 2015

With October comes Black History Month, and as ever a number of Shakespeare-related events are taking place. While it was once thought that Shakespeare might have seen Africans only very occasionally, in recent years close study of documentary evidence has … Continue reading

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Talking about race again: playing Iago

When Hugh Quarshie’s taking of the role of Othello was first announced, it was this casting that drew the media attention. He had, some decades ago, apparently burned this particular boat by declaring, in print, that Othello should not be … Continue reading

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Hugh Quarshie looking for the Moor

I wrote last October about the news that the distinguished actor Hugh Quarshie was to take on the role of Othello, with another black actor, Lucian Msamati, playing Iago. The story is that in an essay Quarshie wrote some years … Continue reading

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“These late eclipses”: the moon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and happiness

On the morning of Friday 20 March the UK will experience a near-total eclipse of the sun. Even where skies are not clear, the sky will darken and we will experience a sort of twilight. The birds will fall silent until … Continue reading

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Hugh Quarshie: Othello at last

In 2015 Hugh Quarshie will at last be taking on the role of Othello. It’s been a long wait: having played a whole series of Shakespeare’s characters in the 1980s and 1990s, from the predictable Aaron in Titus Andronicus, through … Continue reading

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British Black and Asian Shakespeare

We’re in the middle of Black History Month 2014, and it’s a good moment to draw attention to a major project on the history of non-white performers of Shakespeare. British Black and Asian Shakespeare is run by Professor Tony Howard … Continue reading

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