Details

Transporting King Lear to the story-rich and resource-laden terrain of northern Australia, The Shadow King reimagines Shakespeare's tragedy as a blood-soaked tale of two indigenous families divided by land, identity and legitimacy. Lear is the head of a remote community wrangling over mining rights, inheritance and wealth. Their story descends into madness and brutality against the distinctive red earth of the Australian outback, dominated by the imposing presence and blinding lights of a mining truck. Told through modern English, Kriol languages and a score, including Aboriginal ?dreamtime' songs, performed live by an onstage band, The Shadow King fuses music, new text and video to create provocative and epic theatre.

Creatives/Company

Author(s): Michael Kantor, Tom E Lewis
Company: Malthouse Theatre
Director(s): Michael Kantor, Melodie Reynolds-Diarra (associate director)
Design(s): Paul Jackson, Michael Kantor, David Miller
Costume: Ruby Langton-Batty
Lighting: Paul Jackson
Sound: Kelly Ryall
Other(s): Natasha Gadd (film), Rhys Graham (film), Murray Lui (film)
Music: Iain Grandage (music consultant)
Musical Director: John Rodgers