What does it mean to perform Othello in 2020? Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello, The Moor of Venice, is wracked with controversy. From the derogatory term, “moor,” to the racist language and ideas throughout the play, to the fact that a white playwright wrote the play for white actor to play a black character (often in blackface), the play is difficult to come to terms with, and even more so in light of the calls for racial justice in 2020. Shake on the Lake's ensemble, directed by Sifiso Mabena and Kenzi James, attempts to answer this question by creating a devised online performance in response to the themes, language, and characters from the play, in conversation with our current cultural moment.

After the performance, a panel discussion with the artists will follow, to talk about the process of creating THE OTHELLO PROJECT.