John Douglas Thompson as Othello stood to the left of Will Keen as Iago. They are lit in green light and stood against a dark red background

Learning Resources

Othello

William Shakespeare

Explore our student events for the 2024 production and our range of resources, activities and other supporting materials on Shakespeare's Othello.

Student Events

Build on your trip to see Othello in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with supporting events and pre-show workshops. Dealing with themes of racism, gender-based domestic violence and jealous hatred, Othello presents challenges to address when staging or interpreting the play for modern audiences. It is one of the most studied Shakespeare plays for A level English specifications. Book sessions for students to engage deeper with this complex play. 

Insight Session

An interactive pre-show session in the theatre with creatives from the Othello company. Find out how this production was brought to life in the space and what to expect. 

21 November, 10.15 - 11.15am
£5 per student, in addition to a performance ticket

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Student Conference

Explore Othello in depth with this day of events for Sixth Form English and  Drama Students. A series of talks and practical events with academics, actors, creatives and practitioners. The day will include a range of exam-focused material including historical, social and political context, scene and character study, production choices and interpretation.

Tickets for the show in the evening need to be booked separately (additional costs apply). 

6 November, 10.30am - 4pm 
£20 State Schools
£22 Independent Schools 

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Bespoke Workshops

Active two hour workshops with an RSC practitioner in our Clore Learning Centre. These workshops can be tailored to your students and their current knowledge and experience of the play. You can book a workshop as a individual event or as part of your trip to see Othello.

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For Teachers

INSET Days

"A range of skills/activities to help pupils interpret text themselves, in different ways - understanding that there are multiple interpretations. A renewed enthusiasm for teaching texts we have taught for years, and in new ways."
(Secondary English Teacher, May 2024) 

Othello is one of the most studied Shakespeare plays for A level English specifications. Book a session CPD event teachers on this complex play to enhance learning experiences in your school.

Our INSET Days explore techniques used in our rehearsal rooms and and look at how you can use these in the classroom to bring Shakespeare to life.

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Teacher Webinar

A 90-minute online introduction to teaching Othello. Find out more about teaching this play using active rehearsal room approaches, preparing students for exams and have the opportunity to ask questions of an RSC Practitioner. 

4 November, 4pm, Online
£10

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Resources and Activities

Othello is the story of a General in the Venetian army who is targeted by Iago, a trusted soldier who enacts his revenge on him over the course of the play with tragic results.

The reasons behind Iago’s actions and jealousy are subject to lots of debate; is it because he believes Othello is having an affair with his wife? Is it because Othello is a Moor and racially different?  There are lots of themes you can chose to explore in Othello, including:

  • Jealousy
  • Revenge
  • War

Digital Resources and Teacher Packs

 

Shakespeare Learning Zone

Students will find many resources in our Shakespeare Learning Zone, including scene by scene analysis, activities on character relationships, in depth scene studies and PEE grids. These resources are also perfect to be used by teachers in the classroom.

 

Studying Shakespeare? Then you'll love our SHAKESPEARE LEARNING ZONE!
Discover loads of facts, videos and in-depth information about Shakespeare's plays.

Shakespeare Learning  Zone logo

Really get to grips with the stories, settings and characters of Shakespeare's plays. Unlock his language using the same techniques our actors use in rehearsals.