Henry brings Othello to West End

Henry is currently touring the UK with the Northern Broadsides production

Comedian Lenny Henry is to bring his portrayal of Shakespeare's Othello to London's West End later this year.

The production, first seen at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, will run at the Trafalgar Studios in Whitehall from 11 September to 12 December.

Critics lauded Henry's "simple dignity" and "depth of feeling" when the show - produced by touring company Northern Broadsides - opened in February.

It is currently running at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, south-west London.

After this week, the play will complete its regional tour in Newcastle under Lyme and Halifax.

'Off to the races'

"There's been lots of shenanigans about when, how, what, why etc," wrote Henry on his official website earlier this month.

"Finally the talking was done, deals sorted and now we're off to the races."

Othello is directed by Barrie Rutter, who recognised Henry's Shakespearean potential after he participated in a BBC Radio 4 documentary the comedian made in 2006.

"If I was ever going to do a Othello I needed a 50-year-old black man," recalled the Northern Broadsides artistic director. "There he was in front of me."

Henry, 50, is best known for his many BBC comedy shows and his charity work for Comic Relief.