OTHELLO
By William Shakespeare
SCHOOL VISITS 2016
This stylish, fast-‐paced adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic transfers the action to the
cityscape of modern London. In the cutthroat financial world, we dive into an abyss of power and
intrigue, riddled with suspicion and jealousy.
Director Pamela Schermann sets this re-‐imagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy in the meeting room
of the corporate’s office. Everyone is under constant surveillance, private and business lives
entwine, workers are caught in a bubble without privacy or time off outside the Corporation.
There’s always someone watching you, analyzing your every move and waiting for an opportunity
to stab you in your back. In times like these, competition is high. But how much can and should we
sacrifice to reach our career goals? What if in the end there is nothing left worth fighting for?
Time Zone Theatre’s acclaimed contemporary interpretation of Othello tours through England and
to New York City this year, after a sold-‐out run at the Rose Playhouse, Bankside in 2015.
The production can be booked to be performed in schools. Our school performances include full
costumes, sound design and – if available in your school – lighting. They are followed by a Q & A
with the cast and the director.
Running time of the show: 1h30min (Set-‐up time: 1h. Please see Appendix A for tech details.)
Costs: £650 (outside London, additional travel costs may incur. Please enquire for details.)
Adam Cunis (Iago) and James Barnes (Othello), Broadway Theatre Catford, 2016
REVIEWS ★★★★★ "A marvellous re-‐imagining...it should be a shoe in for a transfer to the West End
where I will happily be queuing to see it again“ (London Theatre One) ★★★★★ "Othello has always been a good play, but what Schermann brought to this
production is clearly evident -‐ a fresh vision to a familiar tale, with fresh insights to boot“ (Female Arts)
TESTIMONIALS “We particularly enjoyed the way the actors remained faithful to the text, whilst managing to sound modern and current. Quite cleverly done. And it was excellent how you managed to convey the story so clearly with just five actors in the 90 Minutes“ – Samantha Grant, SEEVIC College “An exciting, fresh version of Othello with accomplished performances by an energetic and very talented cast. Definitely recommended“ – Claire Davies, Drama Subject Leader Gravesend Grammar School “Time Zone Theatre did some amazing work with our students. Othello was outstanding. Thank you for the experience and we loved every minute of it.“ Caroline Mitchell, Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
Othello (James Barnes) and Iago (Adam Cunis), Broadway Theatre Catford, 2016
ABOUT TIME ZONE THEATRE Time Zone Theatre is a London-‐based theatre company which aims to encourage collaboration
between British and International Artists. We produce bold and daring work with the opportunity
for experimentation and innovation and we embrace diversity in the arts. Our interest lies in
working with new writers as well as producing adaptations and reinterpretations of classic plays.
Othello (James Barnes) and Desdemona (Charlie Blackwood), Broadway Theatre Catford, 2016
Time Zone Theatre received multiple 4* and 5* reviews for their bold re-‐imaginings of classics,
most notably Othello and The Taming of the Shrew at the historic Rose Playhouse, Bankside
and Shoot, I didn't mean it /The Last Days of Mankind at Tristan Bates Theatre in the heart of the
West End. Their work has been supported by the Austrian Cultural Forum and Arts Council
England (Grant for the Arts, 2014). In 2016, Time Zone Theatre revived their acclaimed production
of Othello which currently tours through the UK, and has been booked for a 3-‐weeks-‐run in New
York City, Manhattan, in August 2016.
www.timezonetheatre.com
James Barnes (Othello) and Adam Cunis (Iago) at Broadway Theatre Catford, 2016
Josephine Berry (Emila) and Adam Cunis (Iago) at Broadway Theatre Catford, 2016
CONTACT
Time Zone Theatre
Pamela Schermann
15 Opus Studios, 214 Plaistow Road
E13 0AQ
London, United Kingdom
07528 779822
J.Berry (Emilia) and C.Blackwood (Desdemona) at Broadway Theatre Catford, 2016
Title image © Josh Redman, production shots © Lidia Crisafulli All texts © Time Zone Theatre. All rights reserved. London 2016 Time Zone Theatre Ltd is registered In England and Wales, #9734395
APPENDIX A: TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Ideal
Performance
area
5m x 3.5m
Performance can take place on a
stage or in a hall, etc. Audience can
either be on one side or in a sem-‐
circle on three sides of the
performance area.
8m x 6m
Performance can take place on a
stage or in a hall, etc. Audience can
either be on one side or in a sem-‐
circle on three sides of the
performance area.
Lighting
Performance can be done with or
without lighting.
Performance can be done with or
without lighting.
Sound
If you don’t have a sound system,
speakers can be brought in by us.
A35M to House Sound Desk / 3.5MM
Stereo Audio Cable to XLR R & L.
SET -‐ please provide us with
1 solid table (ideally approx 160cm x 80cm)
1 swivel chair
1 chair
SET-‐UP TIME
At least 1 hour, if there is lighting design we prefer 1.5 hours.
Please enquire for further details if required.
APPENDIX B: BIOGS PAMELA SCHERMANN (director) Pamela trained as a director at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, London, and obtained an MA in Theatre at University of Vienna/Austria. Directing credits include: Othello (Rose Playhouse, Bankside, Waterloo East Theatre, National tour 2015-‐2016 and New York City), Rendezvous at Midnight (Rose Playhouse, 2015), Iphigenia in Tauris (Rose Playhouse, Bankside 2015), Shoot, I didn’t mean that (Tristan Bates Theatre), The Last Days of Mankind (Tristan Bates Theatre), Orpheus and Eurydice (Rose Playhouse, Bankside), The Taming of the Shrew (Rose Playhouse, Bankside), Ernest (Etcetera Theatre), Abe & Hans (Theatre503), Salome (ZOO Southside, Edinburgh & Etcetera Theatre), Werther's Sorrows (ZOO Southside, Edinburgh), The Last Day (Waterloo East Theatre), Dorian Gray (Cockpit Theatre), Debris (Karamel Club), Mozart & Salieri (Opera by Rimsky-‐Korsakov, Vienna), La Traviata (Opera by Verdi, Kirchstetten/Austria, 2009), Short plays and New Writing Events include work at Theatre503, the Arcola, Southwark Playhouse and Arts Theatre West End. Her work has been supported by the Austrian Cultural Forum London, the Austrian Cultural Ministry and Arts Council England. PETR VOCKA (lighting designer) Petr Vocka graduated in 2013 from RADA with a Postgraduate Diploma in Stage Electrics and Lighting Design. Recent design credits include: Shoot, I didn’t mean that and The Last Days of Mankind (Tristan Bates Theatre), Bangles (Platform Theatre, Islington), Orfeus and Eurydice (Rose Playhouse), Velocity (Finborough Theatre), and whilst at Rada: Phaedra’s Love, Mercury Fur, New Electric Ballroom, Love and Money, and M.Butterfly. PHILIP MATEJTSCHUK (sound designer) Philip is a London-‐based sound designer and technician whose recent work includes: Romeo & Juliet at Temporary Theatre, NT (sound operator), Dessa Rose at Trafalgar Studio 2 (sound operator), and an Offie nomination (result pending) for Best Sound Designer for Dead Party Animals at the Hope Theatre, Islington. Philip trained at RADA (PgDip Theatre Sound). Further design credits include King Lear (Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone) and Mother Courage (Platform Theatre, Kings Cross). Twitter@philmatejtschuk GILLIAN STEVENTON (costume designer) Gillian graduated from Central St Martins in 1983 with a BA Hons in Art and Design. She worked as a designer at Riverside Studios, London and the BBC. She worked on scenery for ballets at Sadlers Wells and The Mikado (Greenwich Theatre). Her costume designs include Montague Bap (Lost Theatre), An Evening of Neo-‐Absurdism (Hen and Chickens), Ernest (Etcetera Theatre and Riddles Court, Edinburgh) and Me and Mary Poppins (The Space). JAMES BARNES (Othello) James began acting at the National Youth Theatre in 2008 and went on to train at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. Theatre credits include: King Lear (National Theatre), Prince of Denmark (National Theatre), Dangerous Lady (Theatre Royal Stratford East), House of Atreus (Keochang International Festival of Theatre), Cymbeline (Arts
Theatre), Othello (Rose Playhouse), The Ballerina (Theatre 503), What A Waste (Southwark Playhouse) and Bruises by Nadia Cavelle (Tabard Theatre). James was nominated for 'Best Actor' at Film Life's annual American Black Film Festival 2013 for his role in Sable Fable. Recent film credits include lead roles in the RIZEN II and WILDERNESS. ADAM CUNIS (Iago) Adam trained at Exeter University receiving an MA in Staging Shakespeare. Previous theatre credits include; Hamlet & Laertes, Hamlet: Cut to the Bone (Top Edge Productions); Angelo, Measure for Measure (HT Theatre Company); Horatio, The Spanish Tragedy, (LAZARUS); Gratiano, The Merchant of Venice (LAZARUS); Mars, The Woman in the Moon, (The Dolphin’s Back); Bartus, The Massacre at Paris (The Dolphin’s Back); John, Just Like Me (Time Zone Theatre). Adam has also been involved in many of the Read Not Dead readings at Shakespeare’s Globe. Adam is also a freelance workshop leader for companies such as Shakespeare’s Globe and Bard Boot Camp, and has developed a one man, 45 minute version of Macbeth for KS2 groups in association with Globe Education. EMILY BAIRSTOW (Desdemona) Prior to graduating The Oxford School of Drama last August, Emily performed in Punchdrunk’s It Felt Like a Kiss (Manchester International Fringe Festival), and Phantasmagoria (The Edinburgh Festival), whilst at The University of Manchester. During her training she performed in Shakespeare at The Park and in Spent. (Soho Theatre). Since graduating she played Amy in Acres (New Diorama Theatre) and Mistress Ford in the Merry Wives of Windsor. Most recently, Emily toured with the Young Shakespeare Company and performed in Smooth Face Gentlemen’s productions of Othello and Titus Andronicus. VENETIA TWIGG (Emilia) Venetia is an Actress, Playwright and Company Director of Theatrical Niche Ltd. Theatre credits include The Good Person of Szechwan (England & Wales Tour), The Little Match Girl (Regional Tour -‐ Moon On A Stick), State of Fear (Southwark Playhouse -‐ Time Zone Theatre), As You Like It (Charlton Park Open Air), I Found Her In A Bath of Blood (Theatre 503 -‐ Micha Colombo); Lysistrata, Blood Wedding, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Proof (All National Tours with Theatrical Niche Ltd),Debris (Karamel Club -‐ Pamela Schermann), Love's Labour's Lost (Open Air Tour -‐ Black Ram), Abigail's Party (National Tour), The Crucible (National Tour), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (National Tour). Film/TV Credits include The Rise of the Krays, (Torn Pictures), Crownton Dobby (21st Century Film) Brothers With No Game(London Live TV), The House of Silence (Red Bottle Films), Marriage (Inventome Film). SHANE NOONE (Cassio) Theatre includes Pint Size – New Writing Night (Scealta Morena), Macbeth @Rendezvous at Midnight (Rose Playhouse), The Heir (London Short Play Festival), Crumbs (Lost Theatre), Brixton Sunrise (Vaults Festival), Warde Street (Park Theatre), The Cherry Orchard (Charm Offensive Theatre Company), King Lear (National Theatre). He was nominated for Best Actor in the 2014 Off West End Awards for his role of Eddie in Warde Street.