Giles Terera to star in ‘Othello’ at the National Theatre

Clint Dyer will direct the Shakespeare tragedy.

Giles Terera will play the title role in Othello at the National Theatre this winter. Othello will run in the Lyttelton Theatre with performances from 23 November to 21 Jan. 2023.

The Shakespeare play Othello follows the title character, a man who rose from slavery to defend the republic of Venice and later weds a Venetian ambassador. As unseen forces conspire against them, they're unable to decide their future.

Terera will play the title role. He’s best known for his Olivier-winning role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. He’ll be at the National twice this season, also starring in Blues for an Alabama Sky alongside Samira Wiley. Rosy McEwan will play Desdemona, Paul Hilton will play Iago, and the cast includes Jack Bardoe, Rory Fleck Byrne, Kirsty J Curtis, Tanya Franks, Gareth Kennerley, Martin Marquez, Amy Newton, Steffan Rizzi and Jay Simpson.

Clint Dyer will direct Othello, marking the first time Othello is directed at the National by a person of colour. The show features set design by Chloe Lamford, costume design by Michael Vale, lighting design by Jai Morjaria, and sound design by Benjamin Grant.

Indhu Rubasingham will then direct Fay Ripley in April De Angelis's new comedy, Kerry Jackson. Ripley plays the title role, a working-class restaurant owner who navigates the local characters to open her tapas diner. Kerry Jackson begins previews in the Dorfman Theatre from 30 November, with an opening night on 7 December. The show features set and costume design by Richard Kent, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick.

Photo credit: Rosy McEwan and Giles Terera (Photo by Felicity McCabe)