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. A royal family gather for Christmas. The father broadcasts his seasonal message: he's giving up work and dividing his kingdom. With this misjudged act the natural order is upturned and the scene is set for a story of family break-up, homelessness and heartbreak. In this new edited version, King Lear is brought vibrantly to life for schools, families and younger audiences. Stripped down to 75 minutes, the production is a thrilling and accessible introduction to one of the greatest plays ever written. The RSC return to the Theatre Royal with this Young People's Shakespeare production following the success of YPS Hamlet in 2011.

Cast/Performers

Anna Bolton (Goneril), Paul Copley (King Lear), Ben Deery (Edmund), Colm Gormley (Albany / Gentleman), Tyrone Huggins (Gloucester), Debbie Korley (Cordelia), Caroline Main (Regan), Dharmesh Patel (Edgar / Cornwall), Matt Sutton (Kent / Fool)

Creatives/Company

Author: Shakespeare
Company: Royal Shakespeare Company
Director: Tim Crouch
Design: Lily Arnold