“Who is it that can tell me who I am?” An ageing monarch. A kingdom divided. A child's love rejected. As Lear's world descends into chaos, all that he once believed is brought into question. Read more …
One of the greatest works in western literature, King Lear explores the very nature of human existence: love and duty, power and loss, good and evil.
This venture by the which is a major expansion to the run of the original Donmar production of King Lear, sees the company visiting the Theatre Royal Glasgow, the only place to see this magnificent production north of the border.
Derek Jacobi and Michael Grandage renew their collaboration, having previously worked together on The Tempest, Don Carlos and Twelfth Night. Grandage’s creative team – Christopher Oram, Neil Austin and Adam Cork are the Tony Award-winning team behind the company’s recent Broadway smash hit Red.
Donmar Artistic Director Michael Grandage said, "This initiative is born of a desire to share our work with as many people as possible. I believe Derek Jacobi's King Lear will be an event that deserves to be seen beyond the Donmar Warehouse and I’m delighted we are expanding our UK touring programme, as well as going out live to over 300 cinemas worldwide. It means a Donmar production featuring one of our finest Shakespearean actors will be available to more people than we could ever hold in our Covent Garden home”.
Death, when it comes to Lear and birdsong fills the air, brings with it a dignified end to a fine, dignified performance from Jacobi.
Like watching a master class ... but aside from Jacobi’s performance there is little that sets it apart.
The attention of this fine production never wavers from the heart and soul of this great play.
In a play that is as much about fathers and sons as fathers and daughters and inter-gender sibling rivalry, it’s the head of the clan who stands out most. In Jacobi’s hands, Lear’s emotionally bruised veer into the irrational is never simply mad.
'm struggling to work out if our response was out of kilter with the rest of the Theatre Royal audience - there was certainly prolonged applause but not the standing ovation that might have been expected.
[Director] Grandage’s players are extraordinary.
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