Latest News

Blenheim’s A-Level Drama & English students recently enjoyed an unforgettable trip to the Royal Theatre Haymarket to watch a live performance of Shakespeare’s Othello. For many, this was their first experience of seeing Shakespeare performed on stage and it was nothing short of spectacular.

The production offered a modern yet faithful interpretation, with striking staging and atmospheric lighting that heightened the tension throughout. David Harewood delivered a commanding and deeply human portrayal of Othello, capturing both his nobility and his vulnerability as jealousy consumed him. Opposite him, Toby Jones gave a remarkable performance as Iago, which critics have described as “gleefully malicious” and “chillingly ordinary.” Jones brought a disarming charm to the role, masking Iago’s sinister intent beneath a veneer of casual humour and bloke-next-door affability. His delivery of Shakespeare’s verse had a coarse vigour that made the character feel disturbingly real, and his twitchy gestures, sly glances, and conspiratorial asides drew the audience into his web of deceit. At times, his offhand jokes even elicited uncomfortable laughter, before plunging the theatre into horror as his manipulations unfolded.

The experience provided students with a rare opportunity to see how Shakespeare’s language transforms in performance. They observed how tone, gesture, and stage direction shape meaning in ways that cannot be fully appreciated on the page. For Year 12 students, who have not yet begun studying Othello, this was an invaluable introduction to the text. Seeing Iago’s duplicity enacted so vividly demonstrated how subtle physical choices pauses, posture, and timing can turn a single line into a moment of menace. It deepened their understanding of characterisation, dramatic tension, and the interplay between text and performance, insights that will enrich their studies in both Drama and English Literature.