February 12, 2026
Friday 6 March 9.00 – 12.00
ActOne Cinema, W3 6NA
Shakespeare’s OTHELLO rages to life like never before in a ‘compelling’ (★★★★ Telegraph) new production starring David Harewood OBE (Homeland, Best of Enemies), Toby Jones OBE (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Detectorists), Caitlin FitzGerald (Succession, Masters of Sex), Vinette Robinson (Boiling Point) and Luke Treadaway (A Street Cat Named Bob).
Directed by Tony Award-winner Tom Morris OBE (War Horse, Dr Semmelweis, The Grinning Man) with music by PJ Harvey with Jon Nicholls, this epic story of manipulation, jealousy and toxic masculinity explores the darker side of power, rage and desire. Filmed live at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London especially for the big screen, this is ‘an electrifying star-studded Othello.’ (★★★★ Mail on Sunday).
Watching a theatrical production of Othello as opposed to a ‘Film’ version is crucial to aid students’ understanding of how Shakespeare has framed the plot as a classical tragedy and how stagecraft is used to create meaning. Students often fail to identify the subtle nuances of staging when reading and analysing the text in its 2-dimensional paper form. They over-focus on metaphors, violent language and rhyming couplets and struggle to analyse the power dynamics at play, the dramatic irony and the overall effect on the audience.
Due to school timetables, it is often impossible to get students to experience the play in its entirety, from beginning to end, in one sitting. Watching the action unfold scene by scene, act by act, students will be able to appreciate the way in which Shakespeare frames the events within the structure of a classical tragedy. They will find it easier to critically interpret Shakespeare’s intentions and motivations, for example – why a tragedy? Why do these character constructs act or react in this way? What prior event has triggered this reaction. They will be immersed in the play and visualise stage positioning, entrances and exits and the significance of these.
Finally, students will be able to compare this theatre production to any clips or short scenes they may have watched in class. This will elevate their critical interpretations and understanding that different directors may choose to stage and present different elements depending on their own critical interpretation. Evaluating this will give them confidence in forming their own critical opinion and understanding.
The cinema has been reserved exclusively for West London Partnership Schools and there will be an opportunity for English teachers accompanying the students to talk to the group either mid-screening or at the end (timings to be confirmed).
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