The upcoming production of Othello has been pushed back while Doctor Who actress Sharon D Clarke undergoes cancer treatment.
Clarke, 60, is cast in the title role of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new production of Othello.
The show was scheduled to run next year from February 13 until April 3 at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Swan Theatre.
But the Royal Shakespeare Company announced today it will postpone the production so that the award-winning actress can take ‘the time and space she needs to undertake treatment.’
The Holby City star said: ‘I would like to thank all the beautiful people at the RSC for their understanding, love, support and healing energy.
‘Othello will be my north star as I undergo treatment.’
Speaking about her wife, theatre director Susie McKenna, Clarke continued: ‘Susie, my family and I are overwhelmed, humbled and buoyed by the tidal wave of love that we have received and are so blessed to have an army of strength and support to hold us up.
‘Love and thanks to my beautiful people.’
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
The Othello starring Clarke, directed by Monique Touko, is a reimagination of the Shakespeare classic and themes of misogyny against the backdrop of a climate-threatened future where a black lesbian woman holds the power.
The modern Othello is a respected female military general, who meets her soulmate, Desdemona, and their marriage challenges boundaries of race, sex and status.
Touko, whose RSC debut the play is, said: ‘On behalf of the entire creative team, we send Sharon all the love for her ongoing treatment and recovery.
‘As a director, I have been incredibly blessed to collaborate with Sharon on this major reframing of Shakespeare’s tragedy, which reimagines Shakespeare’s Othello through the lens of misogynoir.
‘Her generosity and passion for this project continues to astound me and I look forward to us coming back together when the time is right to share this production with the world.’