Festival Theatre

April 24 – October 29 |

Opens May 30

Shakespeare

KING LEAR

by William Shakespeare

Directed by Kimberley Rampersad

Audience Advisory »

“Paul Gross is superb” – The Guardian

“Paul Gross’s unique performance is a must-see” – The Globe and Mail

"thrilling and, pun intended, engrossing production that will rank with this season’s best" – Postmedia News

“AS FLIES TO WANTON BOYS, ARE WE TO THE GODS.”

Perhaps Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, King Lear is the story of an aging king, who, in demanding a show of devotion from his three daughters, leaves his kingdom divided, his family destroyed, the faithful banished and the hateful left to wreak inhuman havoc in the realm.

Setting: Britain. The near future. A kingdom on the precipice.

House Program: King Lear

Runtime: Two hours and 53 minutes, including one 18-minute intermission.*

*Please note that all run times are approximate.

CAST & CREATIVE

CAST

CREATIVE

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO

An old man speaks with three young women around him along with knights and noblemen.

Members of the company in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

An old man sits with a map in front of him, surrounded by three young women along with knights and noblemen.

Paul Gross (centre) as King Lear with members of the company in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

A man and woman speak intensely with others speaking in pairs behind them.

Members of the company in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

A man holds a letter while looking up forebodingly.

Michael Blake as Edmund in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

A man looks serious while talking to his brother.

Michael Blake (left) as Edmund and André Sills as Edgar in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

A man in shabby clothing performs in front of other knights.

Gordon Patrick White (front) as Fool with members of the company in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

A well-dressed man listens attentively to a man in shabby clothing sitting next to him.

Gordon Patrick White (front, left) as Fool and Paul Gross as King Lear with members of the company in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

A woman in fancy clothes looks up sadly with a servant behind her.

Shannon Taylor (front) as Goneril and John Kirkpatrick in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

A man yells and points out as two men stand behind him looking alarmed.

Paul Gross (front) as King Lear with Anthony Santiago (left) as Earl of Gloucester and John Kirkpatrick as Curan in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.

A woman looks up in grief with two men behind her.

Déjah Dixon-Green (centre) as Regan, Rylan Wilkie (right) as Duke of Cornwall and Anousha Alamian (back) as Messenger in King Lear. Photo by David Hou.