Walker to become first black Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe

Published Friday 30 March 2007 at 17:30 by Alistair Smith

Eamonn Walker will become the first black actor to play Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe, when he appears in the venue’s new production of Shakespeare’s tragedy in May.

The show marks the first time that the new Globe has staged the production and therefore the first time that any theatre on that site has cast a black actor in the play’s leading role. Walker, who is best known for appearing in HBO TV series Oz, will be joined by Blackadder and Spooks star Tim McInnerny, who plays Iago, while Zoe Tapper is Desdemona.

With designs by Dick Bird and music by Stephen Warbeck, the production will employ Renaissance staging, costume and music. American Wilson Milam will direct the show, which runs from May 4 to August 19.