![\"Sharon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_308181268-56a3.jpg\")
\n\t\tDoctor Who and Holby City actress Sharon D Clarke revealed her cancer diagnosis (Picture: BBC\/Fable Pictures\/Des Willie)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tDoctor Who and Holby City actress Sharon D Clarke revealed her cancer diagnosis (Picture: BBC\/Fable Pictures\/Des Willie)<\/p>\n
The upcoming production of Othello has been pushed back while Doctor Who<\/a> actress Sharon D Clarke undergoes cancer<\/a> treatment.<\/p>\n Clarke, 60, is cast in the title role of the Royal Shakespeare Company\u2019s new production of Othello.<\/p>\n The show was scheduled to run next year from February 13 until April 3 at Stratford-upon-Avon\u2019s Swan Theatre. <\/p>\n But the Royal Shakespeare Company announced today it will postpone the production so that the award-winning actress can take \u2018the time and space she needs to undertake treatment.\u2019 <\/p>\n The Holby City star said: \u2018I would like to thank all the beautiful people at the RSC for their understanding, love, support and healing energy.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018Othello will be my north star as I undergo treatment.\u2019 <\/p>\n Speaking about her wife, theatre director Susie McKenna, Clarke continued: \u2018Susie, my family and I are overwhelmed, humbled and buoyed by the tidal wave of love that we have received and are so blessed to have an army of strength and support to hold us up.<\/p>\n \u2018Love and thanks to my beautiful people.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMacmillan cancer support\t\t\t<\/p>\n If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.<\/p>\n You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service<\/a>, or visit their site<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n The Othello starring Clarke, directed by Monique Touko, is a reimagination of the Shakespeare classic and themes of misogyny against the backdrop of a climate-threatened future where a black lesbian woman holds the power. <\/p>\n The modern Othello is a respected female military general, who meets her soulmate, Desdemona, and their marriage challenges boundaries of race, sex and status. <\/p>\n Touko, whose RSC debut the play is, said: \u2018On behalf of the entire creative team, we send\u00a0Sharon\u00a0all the love for her ongoing treatment and recovery.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018As a director, I have been incredibly blessed to collaborate with\u00a0Sharon\u00a0on this major reframing of Shakespeare\u2019s tragedy, which reimagines Shakespeare\u2019s Othello through the lens of misogynoir.<\/p>\n \u2018Sharon\u00a0is the ultimate collaborator.<\/p>\n \u2018Her generosity and passion for this project continues to astound me and I look forward to us coming back together when the time is right to share this production with the world.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, RSC\u2019s co-artistic directors, said: \u2018The casting of\u00a0Sharon\u00a0as Othello is integral to Monique Touko\u2019s adaptation, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to postpone, to give\u00a0Sharon\u00a0the time and space she needs to undertake treatment.<\/p>\n \u2018Sharon\u00a0is, in every sense of the word, a warrior and, we know she will meet this challenge with the unwavering strength and indomitable spirit that she brings to so many aspects of her life and work.<\/p>\n \u2018We look forward to revisiting this thrilling collaboration in the future and, on behalf of everyone at the RSC, we send\u00a0Sharon\u00a0our love and strength for a full recovery.\u2019<\/p>\n RSC said the affected audience members will be automatically refunded, and a replacement programme will be announced soon. <\/p>\n In Doctor Who, Clarke is known for playing the character of Grace O\u2019Brien, a chemotherapy nurse first introduced to fans in the series 11 premiere. <\/p>\n Clarke rose to fame for her role in BBC<\/a>\u2019s Holby City, embracing the role of doctor Lola Griffin between 2005 and 2008, with a stint in one episode in 2019. <\/p>\n The 60-year-old also has a long list of credits for her stage career, spanning plays and musical productions since 1984.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Sharon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_308181364-c681-e1786621507227.jpg\")
\n\t\tClarke has won three Laurence Olivier Awards, two for best actress and one best supporting actress (Picture: Vianney Le Caer\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Sharon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_308181272-a3cf.jpg\")
\n\t\tSharon D Clarke is set to take on the title role of modern Othello (Picture: BBC \/ Duck Soup Films \/ Simon Ridgway)<\/p>\n![\"Actress](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_308181250-030f.jpg\")
\n\t\tSharon D Clarke said she has been \u2018humbled\u2019 by the \u2018tidal wave of love\u2019 after her cancer announcement (Picture: Gregory Pace\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Britain's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_308181248-65cc.jpg\")
\n\t\tClarke attended a National Theatre reception at Buckingham Palace last year hosted by Queen Camilla (Picture: Infantes\/WPA Pool\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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