Отелло (НАДТ)

We invite you to NADT for the play “Othello” directed by David Petrosyan. He presents Shakespeare's tragedy as a modern aesthetic fairy tale about the internal war within a person. Through a familiar plot, the play talks about fear, doubt, trust, and the destructive power of inner demons!

A classic plot with new meanings

The play “Othello” by NADT – is a new interpretation of the famous tragedy by the British playwright William Shakespeare “Othello, the Moor of Venice”. Its premiere took place at the end of April 2024, and from the very first performances the production attracted attention with its unusual directorial decisions. The director positions it as a fairy tale – without an intermission, lasting 2 hours 50 minutes, with a 14+ age restriction+.

At the center of the story is – the military commander Othello, who tries to fit into the alien world of Venetian aristocrats. He wins the love of Desdemona, the senator's daughter, secretly marries her, but at the same time becomes a victim of the intrigues of his officer Iago. Insulted by the fact that Othello chooses Cassio rather than him as his deputy, Iago begins a masterful psychological game, gradually destroying the trust between the lovers.

In David Petrosyan's version, the story gains special depth because Othello conflicts primarily with himself. Not without reason, some translations even interpret Iago as Ego – embodying inner fears, jealousy, and the dark sides of the hero's personality. Desdemona becomes a symbol of light, trust, and high ideals. That is why the play turns into a drama about a person's struggle with their own “ego”. Such an interpretation must be seen at least once!

Othello: a fairy tale reflection on modernity

The performance captivates the audience not only with different story accents but also with stage solutions. For example, part of the play takes place against the backdrop of a ship whose deck is tilted toward the audience as a symbol of Othello's military victories. And it collapses as soon as the general loses love in his heart, instead filling it with hatred and anger. The costumes combine pastel tones and airy textures with holes from gunshots, which are on the sails too, – like the fine lace of war. And the music does not just accompany the action – it becomes a separate character, filling the space with the sound of the sea, the breath of the wind, and a sense of fatal inevitability.

The play “Othello” by David Petrosyan – is a story filled with reflection on post-war times that await Ukrainians as well. It is also about how the inability to speak, verify truth, and trust destroys even the strongest love. On the outside, – a beautiful fairy tale, inside – a painful story about the human ego that can become the greatest enemy.