King Lear

Synopsis

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.

Our Review:

Damian Robson - 5 October 2010

Patsy Rodenburg (international voice coach) talks in her classes about the second circle. Basically and in a nut shell it is for an actor ‘being in the moment and truthful’ and the moment is certainly what Greg Hicks is in, in his rendition of Lear in King Lear from the RSC which is currently at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle for its annual season. He has the audience in the palm of his hand along with his ‘crown jewels’. Such is his decent into madness that every gesture and painful cry is filled with truth and honesty, and it is at times painful to watch. The performance in stark contrast to last years decent into madness in The Winter’s Tale.

Many references are made to religion in this production, and in one striking reference, Edgar played by Charles Aitken appears as a Christ like figure.

There isn’t a great deal to laugh about in King Lear, but what there is, is provided by the fool, played with beauty an...

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