'It was very uncomfortable to become a monster. It rattled me and I had a sob'

Annabel Nugent meets David Harewood and 'Othello' co-stars Toby Jones and Caitlin FitzGerald over steak to talk drama therapists, stinky smooches and Blackface in theatre

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The three of them file into the restaurant looking like soldiers emerging from the fog of war. David Harewood leads the way, flanked by Toby Jones and Caitlin FitzGerald, bringing up the rear. They appear bleary-eyed. A little shell-shocked. “It’s alright when you're in the tunnel of rehearsals during the week, but then the weekend comes and you sort of collapse and have to climb a ladder to get back into that state again,” huffs Jones, clawing at the air. It’s Monday blues times a million.

To be fair, Othello is taxing at the best of times. Shakespeare’s tragedy of a noble Black general goaded into killing his wife by his machiavellian ensign, it’s full of violence, racism, murder, and misogyny. Watching the play can feel like an emotional sandblasting; acting in it, I’m sure, is something else altogether. Luckily, they have a “drama therapist” on hand for this new production directed by Tom Morris, says Harewood. He last played the titular role in 1997, becoming the first Black actor to portray Othello at the National. This time, he does so opposite Jones’s Iago, FitzGerald’s Desdemona - and Samantha, their drama therapist.

“She helps us realise those darker moments in the room,” says Harewood - but also, Jones adds, helps them to process it afterwards, too. “It’s odd because I think, what have people done previously to this, you know? And I guess the answer is, go to the pub!” They all laugh. “I mean, there is a bar backstage at the National,” quips Fitzgerald.