The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) postpones its 2027 production of “Othello” starring Olivier-winning actor Sharon D. Clarke after she is diagnosed with cancer and starts treatment. The RSC says the delay is to give Clarke “the time and space she needs” to undergo care, while affected ticket holders are automatically refunded and further details are expected.
The production was due to run at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 13 February to 3 April 2027. Multiple outlets report that Clarke is cast in the title role and that the show is an adaptation directed by Monique Touko. Several sources add that Touko’s version reimagines the Shakespeare tragedy through the lens of misogynoir, set against a climate-threatened future, and featuring a Black lesbian woman at the center of the story.
Different outlets focus on Clarke’s public diagnosis and profile, including her television work such as “Doctor Who” and “Holby City.” Coverage also reiterates the artistic framing of the adaptation, while the RSC’s core message across reports is the same: postponement is linked to Clarke’s treatment schedule.
