Experience one of Shakespeare's most powerful plays
One of Shakespeare’s most powerful and poignant plays will be played out in the stunning surrounds of Norwich Cathedral’s Cloister this summer.
Othello will be performed by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men (TLCM) on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July 2026 at 7pm for the annual open-air Shakespeare Festival which is always a summer highlight at the Cathedral.
A tale of deception, jealousy and love
A story of deception, jealousy and a man that loved not wisely but too well, the tale of Othello is among the most captivating yet heartbreaking plays ever written.
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men present this Shakespearean tragedy in summer 2026 after last year wowing audiences at the Cathedral with sold-out performances of Twelfth Night.
Performed as in Shakespeare's day
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men are a modern-day incarnation of the Bard’s own travelling troupe of players, and they will be performing Othello just as it would have been played out in Shakespeare’s day - with an all-male cast, Elizabethan costumes and traditional music and dance.
The company have spent two decades entertaining audiences across the country and beyond, and at Norwich Cathedral they have previously performed Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth.
Relax in the Cloister before the show
Each night the show starts at 7pm, and doors open at 6pm so you can enjoy drinks or picnics in the beautiful Cloister ahead of the performance.
Our friends at Bread Source will also have stalls selling refreshments which can be bought with cash or card.
Accessibility
The Cathedral stewards will assist disabled audience members to their choice of seats on arrival. Please note there is no dedicated wheelchair seating areas as seats are available on a first come first served basis.
There is disabled access via the Cloister Garth entrance in the South East corner of the Cloister. Please note that parts of the grass area in the Cloister Garth can be uneven.
Assistance dogs are also welcome at the performance.
We are pleased to be able to offer a free essential companion ticket to people with a disability who would be unable to attend without an essential companion. Please email marketing@cathedral.org.uk for further details.
More information
The Cloister will open for audience members at 6pm and there will be no entry before this time due to preparations for the performance taking place.
Seating is provided but unreserved and the performance is due to finish shortly after 9pm.
You are also welcome to bring your own seating but this must be set out behind the seating that has been provided.
Limited parking is available in The Close and is on a first come first served basis.
Please note assistance dogs only are permitted at this performance.
Audience members are not permitted to bring cameras to this performance.
Please note the Cathedral is a no smoking and no vaping area.
The show will continue in all but the very worst weather! Please visit The Lord Chamberlain’s Men’s Weather Page for more details.
Due to the nature of an outdoor performance, we encourage audience members to come prepared for the elements and bring raincoats.
We request that umbrellas are not used in the audience seating area as they obscure other people’s views but audience members are welcome to take shelter in the covered Cloister walkways.
Tickets
Tickets cost £24 plus booking fee.
Please note that tickets are non-refundable and bookings cannot be amended once made.
The pictures on this page are from previous productions by The Lord Chamberlain's Men.