Othello, The National Youth Theatre, 2021
In collaboration with Olivier award-winning director Miranda Cromwell, I abridged Othello for the National Youth Theatre REP company’s touring production in 2021. The play, which toured to Bolsover Castle near Sheffield and to Royal & Derngate in Northampton, was set within the early 90s rave scene. The action took place in and around Club Cyprus in Manchester in 1991, refracting the play’s themes of love, jealousy, systemic racism and misogyny through the lens of crime and power. Othello was co-produced by Royal & Derngate as part of its Made in Northampton season In partnership with English Heritage. I wrote an introduction in the programme which can be read on the National Youth Theatre’s website.
★★★★ "Fast and furious Shakespeare from the National Youth Theatre...the performances glow" The Times
★★★★ “Fresh perspectives and ferocious performances energise Shakespeare’s tragedy of race, patriarchy and fragile masculinity” The Stage
Photos: Helen Murray
Written by William Shakespeare
Abridged by Dzifa Benson
Directed by Miranda Cromwell
Associate Director - Mumba Dodwell
Designer - Rose Revitt
Movement Director - DK Fashola
Composer and Musical Director - Renell Shaw
Sound Designer - Xana
Lighting Designer - Zoe Spurr
Fight Directors - Yarit Dor & Enric Ortuño
Associate Lyricist - Adeola Yemitan
Additional Lyrics - NYT REP Company Chorus
Assistant Director - Masha Kevinovna
Design Assistant - Tomas Palmer
Design Assistant - Hannah Ghotbi-Ravandi (NYT member)
Sound Assistant - Daniel Mitchell
Vocal Coach - Marcia Carr
Accent Coach - Eleanor Manners
Character Sensitivity Coach - Yassine Senghor
Production Manager - Ian Smith
Deputy Production Manager - Jack Greenyer
Company Stage Manager - Claire Risseeuw
Tour Manager - Dougie Wilson
Covid Safety Officers - Andy Patterson and Anthony Papamichael
DSM - Alix Nicholson (NYT member)
ASM - Samantha Galbraith (NYT member)
ASM - Emily Dimino (NYT member)
Production Sound/ Mixer - Hope Brennan
Lighting Operator and Assistant - Ed Lawson (NYT Member)
Costume Supervisor - Lisa Aitken
Wardrobe Manager - Anna Edwards-McConway
Wardrobe Assistant - Bella Collins
Lighting Assistant - Ben Sugrue
