Othello | Process, Press Night and The Othello Project
by Bridie Donaghy, Assistant Producer — English Touring Theatre
The journey of a production begins months, often years, before the first performance, even before a pen hits paper or the actors step into the rehearsal room. The concept might have been brewing in the writer or director’s mind for years before they felt confident enough to actualise it, or two friends might have had an inspiring conversation which led onto a long devising process.
This is followed by bringing on board further creatives and cast who bring to life and enrich what had previously only existed as a concept. This production of Othello began life as a co-production in 2017 between ETT, Tobacco Factory Theatre and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory. The piece toured to Exeter, London and Germany. Following the success of the production in 2017, this year it was brought back for a longer tour (Here is an interview with the director Richard Twyman about this process).
The length and care of the journey is what makes the moment the piece is shared with the world so nerve wracking. Press Night can feel like taking a big breath in, and not breathing out until the cast take their bows. As a team you become so invested in the journey of the piece that your heart can feel like it’s sat in your mouth for the entire performance.
The Othello Press Night was hosted with one of the production’s 2018 co-producers, Oxford Playhouse (the other co-producer is Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory).
As an Assistant Producer, my role includes managing the ticket requests from the cast, creatives and stage management team, and looking after any ETT guests. Our Press Consultants, Freya Cowdry from Kate Morley PR, and the Oxford Playhouse Marketing and Press Officer, Ellie Harman, look after the press who have come to review the show. We hand out first night gifts to the cast a few hours before the performance. For Othello, Christina McDougall, ETT’s brilliant Production Assistant, had organised personalised handkerchiefs and love hearts.
On the night there was good feedback from a number of audience members and we were delighted to receive some great reviews! ★★★★ Oxford Times ★★★★ The Stage
Othello is on the national curriculum and we have been thrilled that there has been so much interest in the production from schools across the country. The themes in Othello feel acutely prevalent to contemporary discourse and one of the key aims of this production is to firmly root Shakespeare in the world today, making it accessible and relatable, particularly to younger audiences. One of ETT’s programmes to encourage a deeper engagement with the themes of the play is The Othello Project. The Othello Project is a series of events in response to the production, supported by Amal — a project of the Said Foundation. For more information, visit ett.org.uk and amal.org.uk
Performing the same production in a new space and city each week keeps a freshness to each performance. The production has already toured in Oxford, Harrogate, Doncaster, Huddersfield, and Cheltenham and we’re soon to be in Oldham Coliseum (23–27 October), New Wolsey, Ipswich (30 October — 3 November), Warwick Arts Centre (6–10 November), Northern Stage (13–17 November) and Lighthouse Poole (20–24 November).
