Details

King Lear divides his Kingdom between his daughters according to a declaration of their love for him. His eldest Goneril and Regan exaggerate their affection and inherit. His youngest daughter Cordelia speaks only the truth and is banished. So begins the tragedy of King Lear, whose dignity, sanity and finally life are torn from him by a self-seeking younger generation, ambitious for his power. What is love, what is madness, what is truth - Shakespeare explores these questions together with many others in King Lear, widely considered to be his greatest tragedy.

Cast/Performers

Ian McKellen, Frances Barber (Goneril), Melanie Jessop (Goneril - during the absence of Frances Barber), William Gaunt (Gloucester), Romola Garai (Cordelia), Richard Goulding, Sylvester McCoy (The Fool), Monica Dolan (Regan), Ben Addis, Adam Booth, Russell Byrne, Julian Harries, John Heffernan, Peter Hinton, Jonathan Hyde, Seymour Matthews, Ben Meyjes, David Weston, Guy Williams, Philip Winchester, Zoe Boyle, Naomi Capron, Melanie Jessop, Gerald Kyd

Creatives/Company

Author: Shakespeare
Company: Royal Shakespeare Company
Director(s): Trevor Nunn, Malcolm Ranson (fight)
Design: Christoper Oram
Lighting: Neil Austin
Sound: Fergus O'Hare
Music: Steve Edis