Book Reviews and More: Othello

Othello

2026

Stratford Festival

Director Haysam Kadri

Set Designer Brian Dudkiewicz

Costume Designer Gillian Gallow

Lighting Designer Siobhán Sleath

Composer and Sound Designer Thomas Ryder Payne

Fight and Intimacy Director Anita Nittoly

Executive Producer David Auster

Creative Planning Director Jason Miller

Casting Director Ari Weinberg

In the weeks leading up to seeing this production, I reread The Pelican Classic edition of the play; and also Ted Neill’s Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare Othello. Often the kids and I will watch a previous production either filmed from stage or movie, but time did not work for that. This is one of my favourites of the Bards works, and one I am always interested in seeing. My youngest 15 went in fairly blind. My Son had read most of it, and I have read it a few times over the last 40 years, and seen a few productions over the years. This was as one of the 5 plays we picked over the season because my son 18 and daughter 15 both really wanted to see it, and it was the third and final of Shakespear's plays we are seeing this season.

Over the last few years my children and I have been attending Stratford and reviewing all the plays we attend. We have a great appreciation for the bard, and typically attend all plays of his works, and usually a few others as well. Prior to attending my son and I try and read a copy of the play, usually the Oxford School Shakespeare or the Pelican Classic Editions. I believe the festival has put on A Othello 9 times, as of the 2026 season, the first being in 1959. It is the directorial debut of Haysam Kadri at the festival. This season is Antoni Cimolino’s final as artistic director and he selected plays based on his favourites from his tenure at the festival.

The summary of the play on the festival site states:

“Love. Lies. And the ultimate betrayal.

A beautiful marriage and a brilliant military career are destroyed by the devious manipulations of a vindictive comrade. Heroism and dishonour walk hand in hand in this gripping tale of jealousy, regret and revenge.”

The synopsis in the house program states:

“Othello, a respected general in Venice, secretly marries the noblewoman Desdemona, defying societal expectations and drawing scrutiny. Soon after, he is deployed to Cyprus, accompanied by his loyal lieutenant Cassio and the seemingly devoted Iago. Beneath his façade of service, however, Iago conceals deep resentment and begins plotting revenge to destroy Othello’s happiness and professional standing. By planting false evidence and preying on Othello’s insecurities, Iago convinces him that Desdemona has been unfaithful with Cassio. As jealousy corrodes Othello’s trust, alliances fracture and tensions escalate, plunging everyone into emotional turmoil. With deception tightening its grip and reason slipping away, the stage is set for a devastating reckoning that neither love nor honour will survive.”

When we go and see the play in person we have an almost an hour drive home, and usually spend the time discussing the performance. I could hardly get a word in as they both loved the production so much. One of the things we talk about is our favourite performers. It was a very heated discussion this time. We each pick our top 5. Our picks are:

My top ranking for the performers would be:

Krystin Pellerin as Desdemona

André Sills as Othello

Jordin Hall as Cassio

Jessica B. Hill as Emilia

Evan Buliung as Iago

My son's (18) top picks are:

André Sills as Othello

Evan Buliung as Iago

Krystin Pellerin as Desdemona

Jordin Hall as Cassio

Chick Reid - Brabantia

My daughters (15) were:

Jessica B. Hill as Emilia

Krystin Pellerin as Desdemona

André Sills as Othello

Evan Buliung as Iago

Jordin Hall - Cassio

The full cast is:

Othello - André Sills

Desdemona - Krystin Pellerin

Iago - Evan Buliung

Cassio - Jordin Hall

Emilia - Jessica B. Hill

Roderigo - Rylan Wilkie

Bianca - Vivien Endicott-Douglas

Brabantia - Chick Reid

Gratiano - Mike Nadajewski

Duke Of Venice - Michael Spencer-Davis

Montano - Cyrus Lane

Lodovica - Irene Poole

Attendants, Citizens, Officers, Senators - Sarah Dodd, Thomas Duplessie, Steven Hao, Michael Louis Johnson, Josh Johnston, Tarique Lewis, Angel Lo, Devin Mackinnon, Mike Nadajewski, Anthony Palermo

Understudies

Emilia, Lodovica, Second Senator - Sarah Dodd

Roderigo, Gratiano - Thomas Duplessie

Desdemona – Vivien Endicott-Douglas

Othello - Jordin Hall

Messenger - Michael Louis Johnson

Montano, First Senator - Josh Johnston

Iago - Cyrus Lane

Cassio - Tarique Lewis

Bianca - Angel Lo

Duke Of Venice - Devin Mackinnon

Brabantia - Irene Poole

André Sills had a standout performance it what he is calling his double ‘O’ season, playing both Othello and Oberon. This was another great production. My son and I absolutely loved it. My daughter appreciated it more so the second half than the first. She was so frustrated with Iago she even flipped him off when he appeared on stage at one point. She also loved every time that Mike Nadajewski appeared on stage because she so loved his portrayal of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I could not help but wonder about a swap and having André Sills as Iago and either Jordin Hall or Jamie Mac as Othello. I would love to see Sills in this villainous role or even as Richard III.

My kids and I often keep an eye out for the filming taking place at Stratford, and would absolutely go back to see this again for the filming. I am incredibly thankful my children have discovered a love for theatre, and for the amazing productions at Stratford. As one of my favourite plays by Shakespeare, this is now one of my favourite staging’s of it. And my kids really appreciated it! It is an excellent production. I highly recommend it, if you have the chance to go this season, and if not maybe on Stratford@Home or other streaming in the future!

Note: Photos by David Hou/Stratford Festival or our own.