Review: OTHELLO, Crescent Theatre Birmingham

Photo credit: Graeme Braidwood

Bringing a classic to life in the Ron Barber Studio, Shakespeare’s Othello is intelligently staged by those at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham. A story of two men and their fight for power without losing their sanity, this piece is a great introduction for those who are new to the Elizabethan theatre bard.

A tragedy of jealousy, betrayal and revenge, Othello is a Shakespeare classic that is continuously transforming to suit a modern audience. Initial fears of the show being set in its intended period are quickly quashed as the Crescent ensemble perform an almost immaculate rendition of Othello (Papa Anoh Yentumi) and Iago's (Jack Hobbis) relationship, conveying both their tragic hamartias and showing the audience that tradition can still entertain.

The script develops a range of identities and character traits with the potential for an intricately developed ensemble piece. The cast can strengthen this piece by varying their expression of various character traits: not all emotions need to be expressed through shouting. With this, the script will be elevated and allow for greater connections between characters and intensify key moments.

Hobbis' portrayal of Iago is, by far and away, the standout performance of the show. His ability to connect with all audience members and add depth and tone to his character truly makes this piece worth watching. When interacting with others, the character of Iago allows for moments of comic relief, directly juxtaposing this with dark and violent images. Hobbis is certainly one to watch and destined to go on to great ventures.

Some of the scene transitions leave the audience waiting as the set regularly has to be moved during the show. Despite this, the work of lighting, sound and original music, John Gray, Kevin Middleton and Brendan Stanley respectively, certainly adds to the performance as the combination of the lighting effects and recurring sound motifs as well as the intertwining of live music into the narrative brings the audience into the moment and makes a mark of identity in the piece. With the audience surrounding the stage, the technical aspects really help to create an atmosphere, drawing the spectator into the story.

Whilst work can be done to truly appreciate this theatrical classic, Othello at the Crescent Theatre is the perfect pathway into traditional theatre and reminds the spectator of how its message is still relevant today.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Harley Keasey

Othello plays at the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham until 25 November, with further information here.