Don Warrington to star in Talawa's King Lear at Royal Exchange

It has been announced that Don Warrington is to star in a new production of King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

Directed by Michael Buffong, the casting makes Warrington the first black British actor to play the role in a large-scale professional production in more than 20 years.

Warrington is an award-winning actor, most recently seen in the BBC series Death in Paradise. His other acting credits include Casualty, All My Sons and Driving Miss Daisy.

Commenting on the casting, director Michael Buffong said: "King Lear represents a huge and exciting challenge as a director…Don Warrington has been a big part of Talawa's story and to take this journey with an actor of such subtlety and power is an exciting prospect and one that I look forward to beginning."

Don Warrington added: "Michael and I spent some time discussing Lear, and it felt exciting to have the opportunity to tackle something equally challenging. At the time it seemed crazy to say no, now…I wonder if I'm just crazy."

Following their 2013 critically acclaimed production of All My Sons, King Lear is a co-production from Talawa, Britain's primary Black-led theatre company, and the Royal Exchange, in association with Birmingham Rep.

King Lear runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester from 1 April to 7 May, after which it transfers to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 19 to 28 May 2016.