The Stage

Lenny Henry to play Othello in stage debut

Published Thursday 2 October 2008 at 16:25 by Lalayn Baluch

Comedian Lenny Henry is to make his theatrical debut as Othello, in a new co-production by Northern Broadsides and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

The show will open at the WYP on February 14 and run until March 14, before embarking on a two-month national tour, which will finish in Northern Broadsides’ home in Halifax.

Henry began his career in 1975, when he won talent show New Faces. In 2006, he recorded Lenny and Will for BBC Radio 4, in which he explored Shakespeare through interviewing leading directors, including Northern Broadside’s artistic director Barrie Rutter.

Rutter, who will be directing Othello, said: “I first met Lenny over a microphone while recording an Othello speech for Radio 4. Afterwards, Lenny declared to me that ‘sitting with his back against a wall, learning lines in a company of actors’ was a strong desire of his.

“I didn’t need any prompting and two weeks later, with West Yorkshire Playhouse on board as co-producers, we were able to offer Lenny a done deal. Exciting stuff.”

Meanwhile, Henry explained that he was inspired to tread the boards after meeting American actor James Earl Jones while filming True Identities - the sub-plot of which involved the British comedian’s character understudying Jones in the role of Othello.

Henry, who has also been studying for an English Literature degree through the Open University over the past few years, explained: “He [Jones] and I discussed the role many times over the filming period and as one of America’s premier black actors, I felt honoured to have the privilege of his wisdom.

“He told me that when the time was right I should jump in with both feet, work hard, keep my eyes and ears open and let the text do the heavy lifting. When I met Barrie during an extended Shakespeare masterclass, his words echoed James Earl Jones’ and a big light bulb went off in my head. I can’t wait.”

WYP artistic director Ian Brown added that he hopes the new production will appeal to people who are not regular theatregoers, and will be an “Othello for the many, rather than for the few”. The Leeds-based venue will be offering a limited number of £10 tickets once public booking opens on October 17.