Frank Langella plays Lear at Chichester

Three time Tony Award-winner Frank Langella will play King Lear at Chichester this autumn.

The production will run in the Minerva Theatre from 31 October to 30 November before moving to the Harvey Theatre at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in New York (7 January-9 February 2014).

King Lear will be directed by Chichester associate Angus Jackson and designed by Robert Innes Hopkins.

Langella earned one of his three Tony Awards for his performance as Richard Nixon in the acclaimed Frost/Nixon (Donmar Warehouse, West End and Broadway), and subsequently starred in the film adaptation.

His additional Tonys were for roles in Seascape and Fortune's Fool, as well as three more nominations for Man and Boy, Dracula and Match.

Jonathan Church, artistic director at Chichester Festival Theatre, said: "We are absolutely delighted to announce that this legendary American actor has accepted our invitation to lead the company of King Lear here at Chichester; and equally delighted to be returning to BAM after our previous collaboration, Macbeth, in 2008."

– Anna Fanelli