Acclaimed actor David Harewood OBE and comedian Munya Chawawa have come together at Shakespeare’s Globe to celebrate Black British theatre and mark the global streaming launch of Harewood’s landmark production of Othello.
Nearly 30 years after making history as the first Black actor to play the titular role at London’s National Theatre in 1997, Harewood has reprised the character for a brand-new production streaming exclusively on Marquee TV.
During a filmed conversation, Harewood reflected on the immense pressure he faced in 1997, recalling media skepticism surrounding his casting. He noted that theatre traditions had long accepted white actors performing the role in blackface, including theatrical icons like Laurence Olivier and Anthony Hopkins. Harewood emphasized his fierce determination to challenge that convention by presenting an authentic Black perspective on stage, a boundary-breaking effort that ultimately resulted in a massive global touring success.
The discussion also highlighted ongoing barriers to arts access, particularly for young audiences. Both performers targeted high ticket prices as a major deterrent for families, with Harewood advocating for a return to subsidized ticketing schemes to diversify theatre demographics.
In response to these accessibility gaps, Chawawa has founded the Black Boys Theatre Club. The non-profit initiative aims to introduce young Black teenage boys to the arts by funding theatre trips and offering exclusive, behind-the-scenes industry insight. Chawawa shared his own early experiences of feeling alienated in mainstream theatre spaces, noting that seeing leading performances from prominent Black actors like Harewood, David Oyelowo, and Ncuti Gatwa was crucial in showing him that the theatre belongs to everyone.
The new streaming adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy features a star-studded cast, with Harewood performing opposite Toby Jones as Iago and Caitlin Fitzgerald as Desdemona. The production also features supporting performances from Vinette Robinson and Olivier Award winner Luke Treadaway, driven by an original musical score composed by alternative rock icon PJ Harvey. Othello is available to watch now on the arts-focused streaming platform Marquee TV.
