Lord Lackbeards return for Othello

JEALOUS GENERAL: Keagan Carr Fransch will play the title role in Othello for three performances in Wairarapa next month.

A Wellington touring theatre company is bringing Shakespeare to Wairarapa - 16th century style.

Victoria University-based Shakespeare troupe The Lord Lackbeards will be performing three showings of Othello in Wairarapa next month, at Gladstone Vineyard and Greytown Little Theatre.

The troupe last visited the region during its 2013 summer tour of Romeo and Juliet at Gladstone Vineyard.

On its Othello tour, the Lord Lackbeards will be using traditional Shakespearian staging methods to take the audience back in time to old Elizabethan England.

The troupe will use a thrust stage, which extends into the audience, and universal lighting - which lights up the audience so they are fully visible to the actors.

These techniques helped create intimacy between the players and audience, as Shakespeare intended, said Lord Lackbeards' director Ania Upstill.

"We hope that by using his original practice techniques, we can bring to life Shakespeare's language in an energetic and engaging way.

"This inspires audiences to see Shakespeare with fresh eyes."

Ms Upstill said the troupe was excited to perform again in Wairarapa, after its performance of Romeo and Juliet was warmly received. "Wairarapa has a great relationship with Shakespeare - especially Gladstone Vineyard."

Othello, one of the Bard's most popular tragedies, tells the story of a general driven mad by jealousy, when he receives hints that all is not well in his marriage.

The Lord Lackbeards' Wairarapa performances of Othello will be held at Greytown Little Theatre on Friday, July 4, at 7.30pm, and at Gladstone Vineyard, July 5, at 5pm, and July 6, at 3.30pm.