Following on from the success of Macbeth in 2013, Mill Productions presented Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ directed by Geoff O’Keeffe from 8 to 24 October 2014.
This production, while remaining faithful to the original text, was designed to find resonances with Leaving Certificate students and general audiences. Strong central performances from an excellent professional cast in a fresh, invigorating and highly accessible show make this a satisfying Othello for both student and non-student alike.
The cast included Steve Hartland, Siobhan Cullen, Robert Fawsitt, Keith Hanna, Nichola MacEvilly, Brian Molloy, Declan Brennan, Steve Curran, Sinead O’Donovan and Pat O’Grady.
Directed by Geoff O’Keeffe
The support material produced for ‘Othello’ included a teaching resource on video for distribution to the 56 schools that attended performances of the play in the Mill Theatre during October 2014. The 30 minute video is based around a series of interviews with six of the people who were involved in the play. The interviews, with the Director, one of the actors and other members of the team behind the scenes, focus on the creative and technical approaches applied at the planning, rehearsal and performance phases of the production.
The ‘Othello’ teaching resource video starting at the beginning – an interview with Diector Geoff O’Keeffe.
Shakespeare’s language – the final interview: Cathal Quinn, Voice Teacher at The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art.
Links to each of the interviews
PART 1 – Shakespeare’s Othello – a director’s perspective
Geoff O’Keeffe, Director
PART 2 – Othello – an actor’s perspective
Steve Hartland, ‘Othello’
PART 3 – Set Design – staging in three dimensions
Gerard Bourke, Set Designer
PART 4 – Sound Design – the fourth dimension
Declan Brennan, Sound Design and Music plus the Duke and Lodovico
PART 5 – Stage Combat – fighting with words – safely
Ciaran O’Grady, Teacher at the Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art
PART 6 – Speaking Shakespeare – say it loudly, see it clearly
Cathal Quinn, Voice Teacher at The Lir – National Academy of Dramatic Art
PART 7 – A final word – Director, Geoff O’Keeffe
PART 8 – Credits
