Othello
Frantic Assembly
Connaught Theatre, Worthing
Frantic Assembly is a young, creative and innovative set of performers in the ever shifting world of experimental theatre. They work closely with educators and are currently studied as a ‘leading contemporary theatre practitioner on five UK and international academic syllabi’. Quite an achievement for this relatively young company.
Frantic Assembly is revisiting their original co-production with Curve Theatre Leicester from 2008, giving us a new updated version, albeit with the same inspired interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. Whether you are familiar with Shakespeare’s plays, or have neither read nor seen a production of Othello, it simply doesn’t matter a jot when you are a member of the audience witnessing the story for the first time in performance by this company of talented artists. Othello is a tale revolving around one man’s evil intentions, a man consumed by feelings of overwhelming jealousy and revenge, ambition and hate, all disguised by his outward show of loyalty and valour. This is Iago, the villain of the piece, out to destroy the relationship between his liege Othello and his wife, Desdemona. The betrayals, the manipulations and ultimately the bloody violence, are all ‘Othello’s’ mainstays and this interpretation delivers them all and more through the performers’ exquisite physicality and movement. Indeed, so beautifully conveyed was the essential story, that the text was almost secondary to the performance.
From the moment the first act opened and the performers burst onto the scene, a sequence set in a snooker bar room, we were propelled 400 years forward from when the play was written, slap bang into the 21st century. For the first five minutes there were no words, we were given an ensemble piece of amazing movement. lithe and energetic, setting the scene for what was to come. Around a snooker table no less! Othello the Moor ( Michael Akinsulire) is a demanding role, but Akinsulire ensured that his character was both commanding and passionate, whilst his wife (Chanel Waddock) gave a refreshing performance as Desdemona, as a strong and singleminded woman, whereas she is often portrayed as being just a tad fragile and weak.
Joe Layton delivered a towering performance as Iago, one of Shakespeare’s most odious of villains, his name synonymous with evil, managing to convey through his pure physicality and expression, just how far his malevolence would lead us to the terrible finality that would surely come. Poor Cassio, so innocently caught up in the maelstrom of poison and corruption is performed brilliantly by Tom Gill, a pawn in this whole tragic tale.
Who would have thought that the truth and lies of the early 17th century would so easily translate to those we all know are so transparent in our current 21st century world?
I have seen many productions of Shakespeare’s plays, purist and alternative, from an all female cast of Henry V, to Othello itself where all the performers stood on apple crates throughout, completely deprived of any sort of set at all. What I have never seen before is Shakespeare given to us so physically, via movement and expression, in such a modern environment, whilst remaining faithful to the original text. This was my first encounter with Frantic Assembly. It won’t be my last. And judging by the packed house and the standing ovations at the Connaught Theatre Worthing, it won’t be anyone’s last.
Phenomenal.
2 hours 20minutes including interval.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewer: Gill Ranson