What's in my dressing room? – Michael Pennington

Michael Pennington is currently starring in the titular role in King Lear at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton. The four-time Olivier Award nominee's many acting credits include The Winter's Tale (Garrick Theatre), Single Spies (Rose Theatre Kingston) and King Lear (Theatre for a New Audience, New York). Pennington is currently writing a book King Lear in Brooklyn which is due to be published in April 2016.

The Coffee

MP: It’s very important with a long Shakespeare play that you have the right refreshment for the interval. With a tragedy you need black coffee (it would be cappuccino for a comedy!).

The Lemon Cheesecake

MP: The bitterness of a tangy lemon cheesecake is just what I need to keep me going in the interval.

The Make Up

MP: 50 years ago all actors needed great big tin boxes full of various bits of make-up including thick grease paint. Now with improved lighting, all I need is a tube of mascara, a hair brush and a towel.

The Easter Cards

MP: These Easter cards were made for me by my grand children. They’re teenagers now so I'm very lucky they still take the time to do things like that.

The Mug

MP: This is the mug I always use in my dressing room. It was hand-made in Russia and given to me by a Russian friend, and depicts the opera Eugene Onegin.

The Book Proofs

MP: These are the proofs for my book about the production of King Lear I was in two years ago. I thought I should get them finished before this production starts, so I can perhaps do a sequel.

Watch Michael discuss the items in his dressing room below:

King Lear runs at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 1 to 23 April, after which it tours. For more information or to buy tickets, click here.