John Douglas Thompson is to make his Royal Shakespeare Company debut in the title role of Othello at Stratford in autumn 2024.
The New York Times has described him as “one of the most compelling classical stage actors of his generation”. English-American actor Thompson first played Othello off-Broadway in 2009. He was nominated for a Tony Award for best featured actor in a play when he took the role of Becker in August Wilson’s Jitney in 2017.
Will Keen will play Iago in Othello, Juliet Rylance will make her RSC debut as Desdemona and Anastasia Hille will take the role of Emilia.
They will be joined by Al Barclay (Lodovico), Scott Brooksbank (Montano), Ricardo Castro (messenger), John Paul Connolly (Duke of Venice), Jason Eddy (sailor), Kevin N Golding (clown), Edward Hogg (Cassio), Colin Hurley (Brabantio), Madeleine Hyland (Bianca), Graham Mackay-Bruce (senator), Johan Munir (officer), Jonathan Oliver (Gratiano), Finlay Paul (ensemble), Andrew Price (senator), Claire Redcliffe (ensemble) and Jethro Skinner (Roderigo).
Tim Carroll, who directed The Merchant of Venice for the RSC in 2008, directs. He is artistic director of Canada’s Shaw Festival and was associate director at Shakespeare's Globe in London for six years.
He said, “it’s a big thing to be asked to direct one of the great plays by one of the great theatre companies. I came into theatre because I wanted Shakespeare to be at the centre of my life, so of course I’ve always felt a deep affinity with the RSC. It’s the world’s meeting place for everyone who loves these miraculous plays.
“To be in at the beginning of such a profoundly important new chapter in the life of the company is a deep privilege. I’m so inspired by Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey’s vision for what the RSC can be. The fact that so many amazing actors have signed on to that vision says everything. I can’t wait to be part of this story.”
The creative team also includes Judith Bowden (set and costume designer), Paule Constable (lighting designer), James Oxley (composer), Donato Wharton (sound designer), Alexis Milligan (movement director), Kev McCurdy (fight director) and Matthew Dewsbury CDG and Martin Poile CDG (casting directors).
Othello will run in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford from Friday 11 October until Saturday 23 November.