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.
Lazarus returns to The Space with a rep of King Lear and As You Like It, an ambitious and inventive project that hits straight to the core of a working Rep ensemble.
King Lear has a passionate, theatrical and commanding staging, a change of gender of the Monarch works extremely well, violent and viscous Jennifer Shakesby leads the company with style and command. Dukes’ high octane production is a thrilling examination of a play we thought we knew.
As You Like It, is a more curious production, inventive and humours a strong company create an interesting and exciting forest of Arden. Harrington-Odedra leads an inventive and at times exploratory production of an often over played comedy. Lazarus should be praised for their ambition and deliverance. Certainly a company to watch.
- L Painton
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