King Lear has ruled for a lifetime. He has plans for succession – the Kingdom is to be shared among his three daughters. But when he is challenged, Lear’s reaction unravels his family and ultimately the country, hurling him into a storm of rage, self-discovery, and perhaps even acceptance.
Is this Shakespeare’s great exploration of ‘filial ingratitude’? Or the sad tale of an old man in decline and the terrible choices forced upon his daughters? Is it the story of an appallingly entitled and selfish king? Or a daughter too naïve and proud to compromise for an ailing father? It is about all these things, and more. Shakespeare’s epic of the imagination, performed in the profoundly intimate setting of The Neilson Nutshell.
For the first time since 2010, Bell Shakespeare presents King Lear. Directed by Peter Evans and starring one of Australia’s finest classical actors Robert Menzies, this heart-wrenching new production promises to be powerful and utterly unforgettable.
Robert Menzies is one of this country’s great classical actors. For Bell Shakespeare he has given us the fatherly, sensitive yet politic Polonius in Hamlet, and the poetic, philosophical but tough-minded Friar in Romeo and Juliet. Robert’s career spans four decades working on some of the great productions in our theatre history. We are thrilled to present his powerful, brilliant and entirely unique performance of Lear.
2hr 30min (incl. interval)
25th July, 2024
11th August, 2024
Ages 15+
The venue is wheelchair accessible. An Assistive Hearing system is available. Assistance Animals are welcome in all areas of Arts Centre Melbourne and water bowls are available on request.
GETTING TO THE VENUE
BY CAR: The Arts Centre Melbourne undercover car park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The car park entrance is located at 4 Sturt Street. It is housed underneath the Theatres Building – a 5 minute walk (outside) to Hamer Hall or a 10 minute walk along St Kilda Rd to Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The car park is a cash-free facility, so please make sure you have a valid credit or debit card before entering.
BY TRAIN: The closest train station to all venues is Flinders Street Station. Exit the station onto Swanston Street, turn your back on the city and walk across Princes Bridge.
BY TRAM: The tram routes that stop in front of Arts Centre Melbourne are: 1, 3, 3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72. This stop is number 14 – “Arts Precinct"
BY BICYCLE: Bicycle lanes run north and south along St Kilda Road. On-street bicycle hoops are available outside Hamer Hall and the Theatres Building (under the Spire)
Director: Peter Evans
Designer: Anna Tregloan
Composer & Sound Designer: Max Lyandvert
Lighting Designer: Benjamin Cisterne
CAST
King Lear: __Robert Menzies __
Regan: Tamara Lee Bailey
Albany: Shameer Birges
Oswald: Jeremi Campese
Cordelia/Fool: Melissa Kahraman
Edgar/France: Alex King
Gloucester: James Lugton
Goneril: Lizzie Schebesta
Cornwall: Michael Wahr
Kent: Janine Watson
Ensemble/Understudy: Brittany Santariga and James Thomasson
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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