‘The Sun Set on the Stage’ Othello – The Lord Chamberlain’s Men
Maja transports us back to the first night of Lichfield Festival, with a sunset, the Cathedral bells, and tragedy on stage.
Othello, performed by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, wonderfully mimicked the kind of performance Shakespeare himself might have watched when he first saw it performed. Held on the 7th of July 2026, it was an open-air event where you could bring your own picnic blanket and chairs, and were allowed to feast as you watched the act. The stage was elevated so that everyone could see comfortably – those sitting on the grass behind the rows of chairs still had a clear, unrestricted view. Like in Shakespeare’s time, the men performed all of the roles (they even played women!), giving it a touch of heartfelt comedy as well as tragedy. Before the show, the actors welcomed everyone in and gave out programmes and tea towels, which allowed the audience to interact with them.
Most of the details seemed well thought out to benefit the audience. The setting sun added a whimsical layer to the show: the sun set on the stage, which meant that light was on it for as long as possible without ever shining into the audience’s eyes so that the show could be experienced in the best way possible. Although there was no backstage noise to break the spell, the church bells rang frequently. This distracted some of the attendees, however the actors voices were well heard throughout and were clear, even over the church bells.
The surrounding area was beautiful, with plenty to take in during the interval. The Cathedral was intricately detailed with status and I – like some others around me – couldn’t resist not researching its history. If anyone wasn’t fascinated by the views, an interval worksheet was handed out before the show, along with a pencil to anyone who wanted one. There were also a few shops nearby in case someone didn’t – or forgot to – bring their own food making it a convenient choice of venue. The toilets, however, were located further away from the Cathedral. I overheard a few people complaining about this as longer parts of the show could be missed, though it didn’t affect me.
The audience were respectful and quiet during the performance – except for the parts, of course, when everyone had to laugh out loud. This created a peaceful atmosphere and gave the sense of a happy, shared community. Their performance opened and closed with songs, including delicate and ear catching harmonies, and the musical motif coming into the second half. Taking into account that there were only seven actors playing approximately thirteen roles, plus a few minor ones, they handled costume changes and characterisation really well. It was only until the end of the play that I realised how many parts had been doubled. The part that had enhanced the whole thing to me was that the church bells rang one second after they finished concluding the play nicely.
Overall, the performance was spectacular and believable. You could never get bored as something dramatic was going on stage all of the time and entertainment was provided throughout the interval. Aside from the sudden church bell strikes and the distant toilets, everything was well thought out, and the audience stayed calm and light hearted even as tragedy was performed onstage. I would highly recommend it to audiences of any age: as the performance was easy to follow and no prior background knowledge of the play was needed.
By Maja S
Visit the Young Critics blog to read more reviews from young people. If you’re aged 11-18 and would like to be a festival reviewer, applications will open soon for Young Critics – find out more on our website https://lichfieldfestival.org/aspire/young-critics/