It also emerges on the relatively small New Theatre Royal stage as a very direct domestic tragedy, carried forward on a tide of human emotions.

Within that directness comes a lot of subtlety - most obviously (if subtlety can be obvious) in the use of music for stringed instruments played by five of the seven actors.

At first it seems this music might be too gimmicky in underscoring moods, but it is gradually used with more restraint and becomes correspondingly more effective - most notably at Desdemona's death.

The music also underscores the poetry of the text, spoken with particular potency by Vinta Morgan as Othello. He is matched by Christopher Dingli's Iago, horrible in his manipulative plausibility, and the racial aspect is well-defined.

A fascinating production makes use of a busy set where everything seems to have at least two purposes.

Further performances today at 1.30pm and 7.30pm.