Everything you need to know about Othello at Theatre Royal Haymarket
- Venue: Theatre Royal Haymarket (SW1Y 4HT)
- Dates: Until 17 January 2026
- Duration: Two hours and 45 minutes, including an interval
- Times: Monday to Saturday 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
- Audience: Shakespeare enthusiasts and theatregoers seeking gripping, emotional storytelling.
David Harewood and Toby Jones lead a powerhouse cast in Tom Morris’s explosive revival of Othello at Theatre Royal Haymarket – a fresh, ferocious take on Shakespeare’s tragedy that pairs physical intensity with gripping psychological tension.
Harewood – the first Black actor to play Othello at the National Theatre in 1997 – commands the stage with a presence that shifts from charmingly dignified to chillingly violent as his jealous rage takes hold. Meanwhile, screen favourite Jones delivers a weasel-like Iago, skulking and scheming before his deceit grows into something monstrous.
This isn’t the first time Othello has played at the Haymarket, but Morris’s production injects a new urgency – tense and alive with questions of identity, loyalty and control. With Caitlin Fitzgerald as a luminous Desdemona, this Othello reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy as a raw, relevant drama.
What’s Othello about?
At the height of his military success, Othello (Harewood) has secretly married Desdemona (Fitzgerald), the daughter of a Venetian senator. When his bitter ensign Iago (Jones) discovers this, he strikes a campaign of manipulation that slowly poisons Othello’s mind, culminating in the tragic murder of Desdemona.
Set designer Ti Green strips away Elizabethan grandeur for industrial minimalism with gold frames, shifting light panels and projected shadows reflecting Othello’s fractured psyche. PJ Harvey’s haunting score hums and shudders through an unsettling blend of percussion and whispers that makes the tension almost unbearable.
Harewood, Jones and Fitzgerald deliver a trio of outstanding performances
David Harewood commands the stage from his first entrance. His Othello is not a stoic general, but a man constantly negotiating between authority and vulnerability. I found him most at ease with Desdemona – an undeniable chemistry with Fitzgerald crackles in the early scenes, their laughter and affection a rare moment of light before things take a dark turn – even in their final moments.
Toby Jones is magnetic in his restraint. He speaks softly, almost kindly, and at times, I couldn’t help but feel complicit in his deceit – perhaps the knowledge that he is the voice of Dobby in Harry Potter provoked this sensation. His scenes with Roderigo (Tom Bryne) are laced with dark humour, while his interactions with Harewood bristle with dangerous intimacy.
Caitlin Fitzgerald’s Desdemona brings modern nuance to the role. She balances grace with determination, resisting any trace of fragility. Her scenes with Emilia (Vinette Robinson) offer moments of tenderness amid the chaos. When the two women share the stage, the production finds its moral centre – their brief connection a quiet rebellion against the violence of the men around them.
A feverish final act
The second act unfolded like a fever dream. Richard Howell’s lighting painted the stage in bruised reds, while Harvey’s music grew louder and more insistent. A shocking slap from Othello cut the tension, with gasps heard throughout the theatre when Desdemona lifted her head to reveal an instant cut across her cheekbone. I couldn’t help but feel on the edge of my seat despite knowing this was only the start of her tragic fate.
When the tragedy arrives, it feels both surprising and inevitable. A standout moment follows when Emilia echoes the heart-wrenching Willow Song after her husband Iago plunges a knife into her, and she slowly collapses beside her deceased mistress on the bed.
By the curtain’s fall, Morris’s Othello feels fiercely contemporary. This revival doesn’t just retell Shakespeare’s tragedy – it dissects it, forcing us to confront the uncomfortable truths at its core.
Othello is showing at Theatre Royal Haymarket until 17 January 2026. Performances take place Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinee performances on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm.
Book your tickets for Othello at Theatre Royal Haymarket now.
Make the most of your visit
Theatre Royal Haymarket enjoys a prime location on Haymarket (SW1Y 4HT), right on the doorstep of Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. Make a day of it and explore neighbouring attractions such as National Portrait Gallery, London Transport Museum and Horse Guards Parade.
Where to eat and drink nearby:
- Brasserie Zédel: Secure a table at this 1930s-inspired brasserie and enjoy haute cuisine in a stylish setting with marble columns, a gilded ceiling and white-clothed tables. The best bit? Three courses and a glass of wine cost less than £30.
- The Barbary: For spice-packed sharing plates and relaxed counter seating, head to this Neal’s Yard institution and enjoy front-row seats as your Middle Eastern dishes are cooked over an open-fire grill.
- Flute: Set atop boutique hotel Broadwick Soho, this disco-chic bar offers sweeping views of London’s West End and a signature cocktail menu inspired by legendary films shot in and around Soho.
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