Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s recent productions, including last year’s outstanding Hamlet, were notable for their generous casts and respect for the text.

So it comes as a surprise that their Othello directed by Tanya Gerstle is heavily edited, interpreted by a cast of five playing just seven characters, and audaciously dumps one of its key themes: racism.

The most significant cut to the text essentially drops us into Act II. We therefore lose scenes that establish General Othello’s exceptional qualities – making his downfall less tragic – why Desdemona loves him, and the racist attitudes towards a black man in a white society.

Tanya Schneider and Christopher Kirby in Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s Othello. Photo © Nick Robertson

In addition to excising racist elements from the text, Gerstle makes it clear race is irrelevant to her vision by casting three actors of colour. This bold approach forces the audience to reconsider Othello.

While retaining Shakespeare’s other key themes of jealousy and deception, the director adds something new: PTSD....