That green-eyed monster is about to rear its head once again in Elysium Theatre’s dazzling new production of ‘Othello’, which is playing right across the north-east this September and October.

Elysium Theatre have a well-deserved reputation as one of the most exciting theatre troupes in the UK and their new production of ‘Othello’ looks like it will really set tongues a-clacking. The production will take place in modern dress and will echo the Obama/Bush ‘War on Terror’ years. It aims to capture all the excitement and tension of a world on the edge of war and is replete with Shakespeare’s big themes of jealousy and revenge – all wrapped up in an epic love story. Of it, director Jake Murray says: “We are thrilled to bring ‘Othello’ to northern audiences this year. A gripping, exciting, epic play full of passion and feeling, it feels like it could’ve been written right now. It’s our honour to bring Shakespeare to audiences who would otherwise not have access to it. We can’t wait.” Elysium have won swathes of glittering notices for their past productions, and this one looks fair set to gain a whole bunch more. Stop press: Just found out that Elysium Theatre’s ‘Othello’ is very much a part of this year’s Durham Shakespeare Festival, which will be lighting up the city this October. The production is set for a four day run at the Assembly Rooms – details below – and, naturally, it will be one of the real highlights of whole shebang.

Othello: 18 & 19 September, Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, 7.30pm, from £14; 24 September, Alnwick Playhouse, 7.30pm, £18; 26 September, Gosforth Civic Theatre, 7pm, £18; 27 & 28 September, John Marley Centre, Newcastle, 7.30pm, from £13; 1 October, Blackhall Community Centre, Hartlepool, time/price tbc; 2 October, The Witham, Barnard Castle, 7.30pm, from £14; 3 October, Washington Arts Centre, 7.30pm, from £8; 4 October, Bishop Auckland Town Hall, 7.30pm, from £15; 5 October, Ushaw House, Ushaw Moor, 7.30pm, from £13; 8 October, Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm, 7pm, from £13; 12 October, Empire Theatre, Consett, 7.30pm, from £15; 15 October, Seventeen Nineteen Theatre, Sunderland, 7pm, from £11.55; 16-19 October, Assembly Rooms, Durham (Durham Shakespeare Festival), 7.30pm (plus Thurs mat 2.30pm), from £10; 20 October, The Maltings, Berwick, 3pm, from £16. Tickets and more details: helysiumtc.co.uk