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The espionage television series Homeland brought David Harewood international fame – but he’s also known as the first Black actor to play Othello at the UK’s National Theatre when he was in his early 30s. Now, aged almost 60, he is again tackling the role of the Moor, ’declined/ Into the vale of years’, in Shakespeare’s tragedy.

The character of Othello is a skilful General, and the only person of colour in the Venetian army. He and Desdemona - the daughter of rich and prominent citizen - fall in love and marry, against her father’s wishes. Iago, one of Othello’s officers who believes he should have a higher rank, deviously works on Othello’s insecurity, manipulating him into thinking that Desdemona is unfaithful, with fatal consequences.

This autumn’s production at the Haymarket Theatre in London’s West End is a major theatrical event. It is directed by Tom Morris, who co-created War Horse, which has been seen by more than 8 million people around the world. Caitlin Fitzgerald stars as Desdemona and Toby Jones as Iago, with music by P J Harvey.

Past productions of Othello have focused on issues around race which the play raises - but Morris and Harewood are concerned too with the attitudes of the male characters towards women, and how both of these issues are urgently pertinent to society today.

Julian May follows David Harewood, Tom Morris and the cast from the beginning of rehearsal to the opening night as they work together to bring to light the dark themes of power, rage and desire in Shakespeare’s great play of duplicity, jealousy and deadly masculinity.