The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has postponed its upcoming production of Othello, starring Sharon D Clarke, as the actress and singer undergoes cancer treatment.
The show had been scheduled to run next year from February 13 until April 3 at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, with the Olivier Award-winning actress Clarke as the title role.
The RSC said all audience members affected by the cancellation will be automatically refunded, and replacement programming will be announced in due course.
Clarke 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.”
Referencing her wife, theatre director Susie McKenna, the 60-year-old added: “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.”
Monique Touko, the director of the production, 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.
“Sharon is the ultimate collaborator.
“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.”
Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, RSC co-artistic directors, added: “The casting of Sharon as Othello is integral to Monique Touko’s adaptation, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to postpone, to give Sharon the time and space she needs to undertake treatment.
“Sharon is, in every sense of the word, a warrior and, we know she will meet this challenge with the unwavering strength and indomitable spirit that she brings to so many aspects of her life and work.
“We look forward to revisiting this thrilling collaboration in the future and, on behalf of everyone at the RSC, we send Sharon our love and strength for a full recovery.”
Clarke is a renowned actress famed for her theatre career, and has starred in major West End and National Theatre productions.
The award-winner has also appeared in many TV shows including Holby City, Doctor Who and Ellis, along with films such as the recent live-adaptation of Wicked and sequel, For Good.
She also enjoyed charts success in house duo Nomad in the 1990s, which produced popular songs such as (I Wanna Give You) Devotion and Just A Groove.