The upcoming production of Othello has been pushed back while Doctor Who actress Sharon D Clarke undergoes cancer treatment.
Clarke, 60, is cast in the title role of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new production of Othello.
The show was scheduled to run next year from February 13 until April 3 at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Swan Theatre.
But the Royal Shakespeare Company announced today it will postpone the production so that the award-winning actress can take ‘the time and space she needs to undertake treatment.’
The Holby City star said: ‘I would like to thank all the beautiful people at the RSC for their understanding, love, support and healing energy.
‘Othello will be my north star as I undergo treatment.’
Speaking about her wife, theatre director Susie McKenna, Clarke continued: ‘Susie, my family and I are overwhelmed, humbled and buoyed by the tidal wave of love that we have received and are so blessed to have an army of strength and support to hold us up.
‘Love and thanks to my beautiful people.’
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The Othello starring Clarke, directed by Monique Touko, is a reimagination of the Shakespeare classic and themes of misogyny against the backdrop of a climate-threatened future where a black lesbian woman holds the power.
The modern Othello is a respected female military general, who meets her soulmate, Desdemona, and their marriage challenges boundaries of race, sex and status.
Touko, whose RSC debut the play is, said: ‘On behalf of the entire creative team, we send Sharon all the love for her ongoing treatment and recovery.
‘As a director, I have been incredibly blessed to collaborate with Sharon on this major reframing of Shakespeare’s tragedy, which reimagines Shakespeare’s Othello through the lens of misogynoir.
‘Sharon is the ultimate collaborator.
‘Her generosity and passion for this project continues to astound me and I look forward to us coming back together when the time is right to share this production with the world.’
Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, RSC’s co-artistic directors, said: ‘The casting of Sharon as Othello is integral to Monique Touko’s adaptation, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to postpone, to give Sharon the time and space she needs to undertake treatment.
‘Sharon is, in every sense of the word, a warrior and, we know she will meet this challenge with the unwavering strength and indomitable spirit that she brings to so many aspects of her life and work.
‘We look forward to revisiting this thrilling collaboration in the future and, on behalf of everyone at the RSC, we send Sharon our love and strength for a full recovery.’
RSC said the affected audience members will be automatically refunded, and a replacement programme will be announced soon.
In Doctor Who, Clarke is known for playing the character of Grace O’Brien, a chemotherapy nurse first introduced to fans in the series 11 premiere.
Clarke rose to fame for her role in BBC’s Holby City, embracing the role of doctor Lola Griffin between 2005 and 2008, with a stint in one episode in 2019.
The 60-year-old also has a long list of credits for her stage career, spanning plays and musical productions since 1984.