Full casting is announced for the RSC’s forthcoming production of Shakespeare’s Othello which runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between Friday 11 October and Saturday 23 November.  

As previously announced, the Tony award-nominated actor John Douglas Thompson (Till, Theatre for A New Audience’s The Merchant of Venice) makes his RSC debut in the title role, with Will Keen (The Crown, Wolf Hall) as Iago, Juliet Rylance (McMafia, Perry Mason) as Desdemona and Anastasia Hille as Emilia. 

Joining them are Al Barclay (Lodovico), Scott Brooksbank (Montano), Ricardo Castro (Messenger), John Paul Connolly (Duke of Venice), Jason Eddy (Sailor), Kevin N Golding (Clown), Edward Hogg (Cassio), Colin Hurley (Brabantio), Madeleine Hyland (Bianca), Graham Mackay-Bruce (Senator), Johan Munir (Officer), Jonathan Oliver (Gratiano), Finlay Paul (Ensemble), Andrew Price (Senator), Claire Redcliffe (Ensemble) and Jethro Skinner (Roderigo). 

This new production is directed by Tim Carroll (Artistic Director of Canada’s Shaw Festival and director of the award-winning Twelfth Night and Richard III featuring Mark Rylance at Shakespeare’s Globe, in the West End and on Broadway). In 2008 he directed The Merchant of Venice for the RSC.  

Director, Tim Carroll, said: “It’s a big thing to be asked to direct one of the great plays by one of the great theatre companies. I came into theatre because I wanted Shakespeare to be at the centre of my life, so of course I have always felt a deep affinity with the RSC. It is the world’s meeting place for everyone who loves these miraculous plays. 

“To be in at the beginning of such a profoundly important new chapter in the life of the company is a deep privilege: I am so inspired by Daniel and Tamara’s vision for what the RSC can be. The fact that so many amazing actors have signed on to that vision says everything. I can’t wait to be part of this story.” 

John Douglas Thompson has been hailed by the New York Times “as one of the most compelling classical stage actors of his generation”.  

Will Keen has previously performed at the RSC in Prince of Homburg. His other theatre work includes: Patriots, Quartermaine’s Terms (West End); Ghosts, Waste, Tom and Viv (Almeida); The Changeling, Macbeth (Cheek by Jowl); The Arsonists (Royal Court); The Coast of Utopia, The Duchess of Malfi (National Theatre). 

Juliet Rylance makes her RSC debut as Desdemona. Her previous theatre work includes: As You Like It, (BAM/Old Vic/The Bridge Project), The Tempest (BAM/The Old Vic/ The Bridge Project), Ivanov (Classic Stage Company), The Cherry Orchard (Classic Stage Company), Three Sisters (Classic Stage Company), Othello (Theatre for a New Audience), The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre), Troilus and Cressida (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre), I Am Shakespeare (Chichester Festival Theatre/UK Tour), Romeo and Juliet (Middle Temple Hall, London), Bash Latter-day Plays (Trafalgar Studios, West End).  

Anastasia Hille has previously performed at the RSC in A Winter’s Tale. Her other theatre credits include: Hamlet (Barbican), The Oresteia (Park Avenue Armoury) and Paradise (National Theatre).