Othello Review: David Harewood’s Intense General and Toby Jones’ Wicked Iago
Tom Morris’s production of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello is currently playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until 17 January 2026. This polished West End staging invites audiences to revisit the classic tale of jealousy and betrayal.
Nearly three decades ago, David Harewood made history as the first Black actor to play Othello at the National Theatre. Returning now, Harewood embodies the Moorish general wrestling with the destructive lies spread by his ensign, Iago.
While Harewood did not appear in the 1997 production, he recalls portraying Othello then as “balling and screaming” with rage, reacting viscerally to accusations of Desdemona’s betrayal and Iago’s treachery. In contrast, this current interpretation begins with a more measured, seasoned Othello, whose calm exterior soon unravels under Iago’s manipulations.
Harewood’s Othello transforms into a volatile hothead, overwhelmed by conspiracies to the point that he loses sight of those closest to him. This psychological complexity is matched brilliantly by Toby Jones, whose performance as Iago is delightfully sinister and compelling.
“I didn’t see Harewood’s 1997 interpretation, but by his own account he played the part ‘balling and screaming’ with rage… Here in Tom Morris’s polished West End production, he is, at least initially, a man whose years have lent him an acquired wisdom.”
“Harewood has a wonderfully wicked scene partner in Toby Jones.”
This production highlights both the tragic depth of Othello’s character and the cunning malice of Iago, brought to life through a powerful and dynamic lead duo.
Author’s summary: David Harewood delivers a nuanced, fiery Othello paired with Toby Jones’ masterful Iago, making this West End production a gripping exploration of jealousy and deception.