Overview
- The company announced on Wednesday that three-time Olivier winner Sharon D. Clarke will play Othello in Monique Touko’s production, which runs Feb. 13–Apr. 3, 2027 at the Swan Theatre.
- The RSC says the rehearsal concept places the title character as a Black lesbian living in a climate‑threatened future and frames the story through the term misogynoir, which combines anti-Black racism with sexism.
- The announcement named a creative team including Paul Wills (scenic), Jodie‑Simone Howe (costume), Matt Haskins (lighting), Khalil Madovi (sound), Kloé Dean (movement), and dramaturgs Rebecca Lathan and Ayanna Thompson.
- Priority booking for RSC members opens July 3, 2026 and general ticket sales begin July 16, 2026, with additional casting beyond Clarke to be confirmed later.
- The change has prompted media and public discussion about reinterpretation and representation, and observers say further casting news and audience response will shape how the production is received.