The Royal Shakespeare Company has postponed its planned production of Othello while its lead, Sharon D Clarke, undergoes cancer treatment. The decision reflects the centrality of Clarke’s casting to director Monique Touko’s reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, and ticket holders will receive automatic refunds.

The production had been due to run at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Swan theatre from 13 February to 3 April 2027, with a new period to be announced later. Touko’s version places a Black lesbian in power in a climate-threatened future and examines misogynoir; Clarke, 60, said Othello would be her “north star” during treatment and thanked supporters for their love.