Othello: Remixed

This play is soooo good, I’m gonna have to start this review with what should be the ending and yell “FIVE STARS! GO SEE IT!”.

Darren Raymond has cleverly ‘remixed’ Othello and brought the work of Britain’s most famous bard bang up to date without losing any of the tales original, passionate plot.

If there’s one play that you cannot miss this summer, Othello: Remixed is it! Ok… so I’m not exactly a purist – talking musically, there’s nothing like the original but I’m also in favour of a good remix because, if it’s well done, it injects a modern freshness into an old tune creating a whole new audience, and that’s cool. Keeps it alive.

However, when it comes to classic movies and Shakespeare I’m not so sure – sometimes done is done and should be left well alone. I prepared myself to cringe and possibly hate this production, but how wrong I was; pleasantly surprised doesn’t even begin! Director Darren Raymond has cleverly ‘remixed’ Othello and brought the work of Britain’s most famous bard bang up to date without losing any of the tales original, passionate plot.

Set today, in a boxing gym, Othello is a boxer on the verge of becoming champ and Desdemona the daughter of the gym owner. The pair are in love and the victims of jealousy, deceit and treachery. Shakespeare’s classic tragedy is laced with modern humour and ‘road-man’ chat (street slang) interspersed with classic lines of beautifully spoken Shakespearean.

The casting was excellent – all of the actors play their roles really well so it’s difficult to single out one stand-out performance, so special Afridiziak shout-outs go to Baba Oyejide who has the most amazingly clear diction and intonation. He played master manipulator Iago well… Almost too well – I wouldn’t trust him if I met him for real, I’ll hold my hands up! One to watch. Danielle Adegoke who played a superbly sneaky, shit-stirring Referee with wonderful furtive and menace, and Nakeba Buchanan whose Emilia started off a bit bland but came into her passionate and powerful own by the end.

If your kid is approaching English GCSE and bored to tears by set texts, this may be the perfect tool to get them interested in Shakespeare.

Othello: Remixed is a fabulous achievement by Darren Raymond and the Intermission Youth Theatre Company. It’s funny; it’s gripping, and has some banging tunes slotted in between scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed this play, as did the rest of the audience judging by its roar at the finish. I would highly recommend it to anyone. If your kid is approaching English GCSE and bored to tears by set texts, this may be the perfect tool to get them interested in Shakespeare.