Walker and McInnerny Star in Globe's 'Othello' in London

Lead casting has been announced for a new production of Othello that will be mounted at Shakespeare's Globe this summer, reports London Theatre Guide.

The production, which will begin performances on May 4th, will star Eamonn Walker in the title role, Tim McInnerny as the vindictive Iago, Zoe Tapper as Desdemona, as well as Lorraine Burroughs as Emilia.

Wilson Milam (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) will helm the production of the classic tragedy, which will feature designs by Dick Bird and music by Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love).  "The republic of Venice employs Othello, a self-made man and a Moor, to defend its overseas territories against the Turks. But for all his military success, Othello remains an outsider in the city, an object of racism, envy and mistrust. As the Turkish threat gathers and Venetian forces are despatched to Cyprus, Iago, a junior officer secretly enraged by his lack of promotion, exploits Othello's ambiguous position and ingenuous nature, driving him into a passionate and uncontrollable jealousy," states the Globe's website.

Walker, who previously played Othello in Andrew Davies' 2001 TV adaptation, is known for his work on "Oz" and "Justice."  McInnerny is familiar to audiences for appearing on "Blackadder," and has appeared on London stages in Comedians, The Lady from the Sea and more.  The BBC drama "Spooks" is among his other TV credits.  Tapper's London theatre credits include Epitaph for George Dillon and she has been seen in the film Stage Beauty.  Burroughs, who has appeared on TV in "Wide Sargasso Sea," among others, has performed on stage in Fabulation, Anna in the Tropics and more.