We sat down for a chat with Michael Claff, who will soon be taking on the iconic role of Iago in the upcoming production of Othello at The Network Theatre.
How do you personally relate to the characters of Iago, and what aspects of his emotional journeys have been the most challenging or rewarding to portray on stage?
I don’t think it’s always necessary to relate to a character you are portraying, which is a good thing for me as I have often been cast in villainous roles. But having the chance to play someone that is different from you is something that is very rewarding. With a character like Iago I think it’s important to consider their mindset rather than simply play them as evil. In his own mind the destruction that he causes is justified, and he just doesn’t experience empathy for people or a proper sense of right and wrong the way that most people do. I always find acting Shakespeare challenging no matter the size or complexity of the role. You really have to try and work at connecting to the language and allow the words to do the work, which can be very difficult, especially if you come to it having just done other forms of acting such as acting for camera.
Iago is often described as one of Shakespeare’s most complex villains. How have you approached capturing the layers of his motivations beyond just revenge, and what makes him such a compelling character for you?
Again, I think it helps to consider the mind set of the character and his unique perspective on the action of the story. Shakespeare is fantastic at writing about the human condition, especially when it comes to mental illness and criminal disorders. That means you can often find modern day resources such as documentaries and interviews with people that have the characteristics of the character you are playing and these can be helpful tools to draw on and help trigger your imagination. We never really find out why Iago is the person that he is. Whether it’s by nature or nurture is not in the text and I think that’s part of what makes him so compelling and such an interesting character to play.
The themes of love, betrayal, and manipulation are timeless. How does this production of Othello bring a fresh or modern perspective to these classic ideas?
We have been exploring the theme of war, and the lasting and damaging psychological impact the experiences of war have on those involved. Othello’s traumatic wartime experiences and his subsequently fragile mental state leave him vulnerable to Iago manipulations. Also, the theme of domestic violence – with Emilia and Desdemona both experiencing violence at the hands of their unstable husbands is also something which our group explored.
Iago’s manipulation drives much of the plot. How do you ensure the subtlety of his deceit remains clear and powerful for the audience without revealing too much too soon?
I think much of this is in the writing. Shakespeare creates a character that speaks differently to different people and this can be seen when comparing his often long, elaborate speeches when speaking to Roderigo in which he uses a very broad vocabulary, and his often short and simple dialogue when speaking to Othello. He knows the right thing to say to the right person at the right time, and this is what makes him such a successful manipulator. When playing the scenes I try to think of each scene as a jigsaw piece with the audience gradually getting an idea of who the character is as the story moves on. This way you can kind of plot the performance in your head to try and ensure not everything is revealed too soon.
Othello is playing at Network Theatre in February 2025