David Oyelowo is said to be "a bit of a genius"

The production's director, Michael Boyd, said the casting had not been about colour but had been conducted on merit.

He said: "David really is a bit of a genius. It is colour blind casting, his son will be white and there is no hint of illegitimacy."

A spokesman for the RSC added: "We like to get the best actors for the part and that is what David is."

The 24-year-old actor, who joined the RSC last year, expressed his delight at landing the role.

Hopefully it will pave the way for other actors

David Oyelowo

"Hopefully it will pave the way for other actors. The more barriers come down the better," he said.

The actor told The Times: "A lot of my friends in the industry have found it very difficult.

"They are constantly offered 'drug dealers on The Bill'. You can imagine how demoralising that is."

Earlier in the year, actor Ray Fearon became the first black person to play Othello at the RSC theatre in Stratford since a US actor played the part in 1959.