This thrilling and lyrical retelling of Othello, with Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in the title role, sees the National Youth Theatre REP company explore themes of love, jealousy, systemic racism and misogyny through the lens of crime and power.
Set against the early 90s rave scene with electrifying music and movement Olivier Award-winning Director Miranda Cromwell (Death of a Salesman, West End) gets to the heart of the play in this abridgement by dramatist Dzifa Benson (Creative Producer at The Water Replies for Estuary 2021 Festival.)
Running time approx 95mins
Recommended for ages 12+ includes strong language and drug taking references
Cast
Tiajna Amayo – DJ / Chorus Francesca Amewudah-Rivers – Othello Will Atiomo – Gratiano Ishmel Bridgeman – Cassio Matilda Rae – Bianca Connor Crawford – Iago Alexandra Hannant – Desdemona Jack Humphrey – Brabantio James-Eden Hutchinson – Roderigo Tife Kusoro – Montano Jack Matthew – Chorus Nkhanise Phiri – Chorus Julia Kass – Emilia Will Stewart – Ludovico Adeola Yemitan – Chorus Ben Wilson – Duke & Chorus
Team
Abridged by Dzifa Benson Directed by Miranda Cromwell Associate Director – Mumba Dodwell Designer – Rose Revitt Movement Director – DK Fashola Composer and Musical Director – Renell Shaw Sound Designer – Xana Lighting Designer – Zoe Spurr Fight Director – Yarit Dor Assistant Director – Masha Kevinovna Design Assistant – Hannah Ghotbi-Ravandi (NYT member) Sound Assistant – Daniel Mitchell Lighting Assistant – Ben Sugrue Vocal Coach – Marcia Carr Accent Coach – Eleanor Manners Character Sensitivity Coach – Yassine Senghor Production Manager – Ian Smith Deputy Production Manager – Jack Greenyer Company Stage Manager – Claire Risseeuw Tour Manager – Dougie Wilson Covid Safety Officers – Andy Patterson and Anthony Papamichael DSM – Alix Nicholson (NYT member) ASM – Samantha Galbraith (NYT member) ASM – Emily Dimino (NYT member) Production Sound/ Mixer – Hope Brennan Lighting Operator – Ed Lawson Costume Supervisor – Lisa Aitken Wardrobe Manager – Anna Edwards-McConway Wardrobe Assistant – Amy Yeates (NYT member)
All animals are equal – but some are more equal than others
Award-winning political playwright Tatty Hennessy (A Hundred Words for Snow, F*Off) adapts George Orwell’s classic as an allegory for our own times exploring themes of revolution, the price of sovereignty and power with humour and sharp wit.
When the downtrodden animals of a farm overthrow their master to run the show themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of independence and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless élite among them start to take control. Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they thought, and find themselves hopelessly ensnared as one form of tyranny is replaced with another and independence isn’t what they were promised it would be.
Directed with playful invention by Ed Stambollouian (Pinter at the Pinter, West End), this Made in Northampton production, in association with Kneehigh Theatre, will star Britain’s best young performing talent from the 2020 National Youth Theatre REP Company.
The production is a collaboration between Royal & Derngate and the National Youth Theatre, whose renowned alumni rank amongst Britain’s greatest actors including Northampton’s Matt Smith, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Helen Mirren and Daniel Day Lewis.
Backstage NYT graduates have gone on to work in key roles at the world’s biggest theatres and events including Olympic Ceremonies, award-wininng large-scale theatre productions and global tours of the world’s biggest music artists.
Cast Tiajna Amayo – Petunia Francesca Amewudah-Rivers – Benjamin Will Atiomo – Boxer Ishmel Bridgeman – Blue Matilda Rae – Squealer Connor Crawford – Minimus Alexandra Hannant – Old Major Jack Humphrey – Minty James-Eden Hutchinson – Milo Tife Kusoro – Nutmeg Jack Matthew – Napoleon Nkhanise Phiri – Clara Jadie Rose Hobson – Tess Will Stewart – Mollie Adeola Yemitan – Clover Ben Wilson – Snowball
Team
Adapted by Tatty Hennessy Director Ed Stambollouian Set & Costume Designer – Jasmine Swan Lighting Designer – Zoe Spurr Choreographer – Vicki Igbokwe Composer – John Elliott Sound Designer – Xana Musical Director – Jordan Clarke Vocal Coach – Marcia Carr Production Manager – Ian Smith Deputy Production Manager – Jack Greenyer Company Stage Manager – Claire Risseeuw Tour Manager – Dougie Wilson Assistant Director – Masha Kevinovna Design Assistant (NYT Member) – Ellie Roser Sound Assistant (NYT Member) – Daniel Mitchell Lighting Assistant and Operator (NYT Member) – Ed Lawson Covid Safety Officers – Andy Patterson and Anthony Papamichael Deputy Stage Manager (NYT Member) – Alix Nicholson Assistant Stage Manager (NYT Member) – Samantha Galbraith Assistant Stage Manager (NYT Member) – Emily Dimino Production Sound and Mixer – Hope Brennan Costume Supervisor – Jennie Quirk Assistant Costume Supervisor and Wardrobe Manager – Anna Edwards-McConway Wardrobe Assistant (NYT member) – Amy Yeates
: current/future_show
: 41286
: Royal & Derngate, Northampton... NYT Workshop Theatre, National Youth Theatre Holloway Road, London... Soulton Hall, Shropshire
: 19/05/2021
: N76LW
: 19/06/2021
: Greater London
: George Orwell, adapted by Tatty Hennessy. Co-produced with Royal & Derngate in association with Mike Shepherd (Kneehigh). Performed by the NYT REP Company