Othello

Story

Synopsis

With freshly rechristened characters and brand-new dialogue, this British TV production of Othello is a "rethinking" of Shakespeare's play, albeit still retaining the original's power and potency. The story is set in the London of the near future, a crime-ridden metropolis virtually torn apart by racial hostilities. By order of the Prime Minister, black police officer John Othello (Eamonn Walker) is promoted to Commissioner, a post dearly coveted by Othello's friend, mentor and fellow officer Ben Jago (Christopher Eccleston). Seething with jealousy, Jago contrives to discredit Othello in the eyes of the public, and to destroy John's interracial marriage to the lily-white Dessie (Keeley Hawes). Among those used as unwitting dupes to gain Jago's ends are Othello's trusted lieutenant, Michael Cass (Richard Coyle), scrupulously honest police constable Alan Roderick (Del Synnott), and Jago's own wife, Lulu (Rachael Stirling).

Director

Geoffrey Sax

Writers

Andrew Davies, William Shakespeare

Language

English

Country

Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America

Release date

23 December 2001

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Christopher Eccleston

  Ben Jago

• 

  Eamonn Walker

  John Othello

• 

  Keeley Hawes

  Dessie Brabant

• 

  Richard Coyle

  Michael Cass

• 

  Rachael Stirling

  Lulu

• 

  Del Synnott

  Alan Roderick

• 

  Michelle Newell

  Alma

• Christopher Fox

  PC Adey

• 

  Bill Paterson

  Sinclair Carver

• Carl McCrystal

  Geoffrey

• 

  Tim Faraday

  Chief Superintendent

• 

  Joss Ackland

  James Brabant