Othello: performance conventions

Elizabethan Theatre Conventions

The original performance of Othello adhered to the conventions of Elizabethan theatre, which included a bare stage, small props, and elaborate costumes. These factors affect the characters’ movement and interaction with the stage environment.

Use of Soliloquies and Asides

Typical to Shakespearean plays, Othello utilises soliloquies and asides. These help to reveal the inner thoughts and motives of characters, most notably Iago. This creates a dramatic irony, intensifying the tragedy’s impact.

Blocking and Stage Movement

Consideration of traditional Elizabethan stage settings and “blocking” (the movement of actors on stage) can inform modern interpretations and adaptations of Othello. The stage was often divided into three levels: the “heavens,” the main stage, and the “hell,” with each having symbolic implications.

Colours and Costumes

The use of costumes and colour symbolism played a notable role in Elizabethan theatre. The colours of costumes in Othello could be explored, as they might denote status, character traits, or emotional states, contributing to the visual storytelling.

Audience Interaction

During the Elizabethan era, audience and performer boundaries were less rigid. Actors may have interacted with the audience, breaking the fourth wall. This convention could be adopted in modern performances of Othello to reflect the traditional performance style.

Gender Performances

All female roles in Shakespearean plays were originally performed by male actors. The implications and effects of this convention, as well as its reversal or modification in modern performances of Othello, might be explored.

Symbolic Actions and Gesture

Performances of Othello would use physical actions and gestures as symbolic indicators. The handing over of the handkerchief, for example, is symbolic action crucial to the plot, symbolizing love, faithfulness, and later betrayal and suspicion.

Rhythm, Pace and Pause

The rhythm of iambic pentameter, pace of speech and strategic pauses are important tools in Othello that guide the emotional contour of the performance and allow for dramatic emphasis.

Effect of Tragic Elements

As a tragedy, performances of Othello need to effectively convey the tragic elements - emotional tension, climactic revelations, and cathartic release - to make the narrative compelling and affective.