Frantic Assembly’s Othello by Ariana Ahmad, Tolworth Girls’ School

Frantic Assembly take to the stage with their 2022 Othello Tour, running from September 2022 to February 2023, a reimagined modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s traditional text. This updated version of their previously invented series ran in 2008 and 2014, it has now visited 9 venues and includes 9 actors.

The story details a Moorish general (Othello) in the Venetian army who is driven insane by his seemingly trusted ensign (Iago), which awakens deep-seated jealousy and envy of his wife’s (Desdemona) innocent friendship. with another person. Othello becomes uncharacteristically radical as Iago secretly wreaks havoc on the other characters – spreading misinformation and abusing status – until Othello eventually kills his wife before killing himself.

Frantic Assembly uses the original script, but the play is set in a modern British setting – a British pub – to effectively bring the current major themes of morality and racism to a modern 21st century audience in an accessible, yet still dramatic, context. .

Frantic Assembly stated that they were initially “inspired by fairly recent race riots”, allowing them to draw on real-life experiences of discriminatory behavior and rebellion against this common prejudice to reinforce the value of race that is seen throughout the play. Although they also stated that the focus of “Othello” seems to have shifted in this recent adaptation – while focusing on the core concept of the role of race embodied in the divisions of society – the idea of ​​manipulation appeared as of the new coordination center. The play’s director, Scott Graham, reported that “truth and lies no longer exist,” reiterating that manipulation is now a recurring motif in the play. Thus, teaching the audience that the continuous, internal cycle of falsifications as well as acts of self-destructive deception play an important role in catalyzing the declination of maturity as well as the subsequent elimination of stability in Othello’s life. The play especially brought an element of unpredictability, sustained suspense and tension to the scene.

As a company, movement is central to the spirit of Frantic Assembly, and Othello is no exception. Unsurprisingly, the actors in this play demonstrate an increasingly high level of advanced physicality, in keeping with the company’s well-known signature style. In this unique style, great emphasis is placed on the physical display of action, fluidity and function of the whole body to portray emotion, even in the absence of speech. Othello expressly allowed many actions to be taken at once; leaving the audience largely stunned by such displays of movement, while still complementing the original text.

It is impressive that Othello completely intrigues the audience with the tender and explosive presentation of the movement, as well as the reworked intentions that underlie the seventeenth-century tragedy. I was very moved by this emotional performance and hope that he will return to the stage in the future.

For more information visit the Frantic Assembly website: https://www.franticassembly.co.uk/productions/othello-2#overview