AMY STUTZ
  • Theatre
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Features
  • Travel
  • About
  • Published Work
  • Theatre
  • Travel
  • About
  • Published Work
4K Followers
0 Followers
Subscribe
AMY STUTZ
AMY STUTZ
  • Theatre
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Features
  • Travel
  • About
  • Published Work
  • Theatre

REVIEW | King Lear | Royal Exchange Theatre & Talawa Theatre Company & Birmingham Repertory Theatre

  • 25th May 2016
  • 4 comments
  • 2 minute read
  • Amy
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Don Warrington (King Lear) & Miltos Yerloemou (The Fool) Photo Jonathan Keenan.jpg
Don Warrington (King Lear) & Miltos Yerloemou (The Fool) Photo Jonathan Keenan.jpg

In commemoration of 400 years since Shakespeare’s death, Royal Exchange Theatre and Talawa Theatre Company in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre present King Lear. The tragic story of ancient Britain in which King Lear decides to give up his crown and divide his power between his three daughters.

Don Warrington, known for his role in Death In Paradise, leads the cast as the formidable King Lear. After the RSC’s success with their African adaptation of Hamlet this season, Britain’s primary black-led touring company Talawa Theatre explore the cultural diversity that shapes the excellence of modern Shakespeare.

Michael Buffong’s production is stripped bare with a minimalistic medieval set. The bleak ancient walls and a central circular design is the shape of an eye which reflects the ongoing theme of blindness in the play, physical blindness and also the character’s inability to see situations and other character’s feelings. Flaming posts and long coats with fur are used to heighten the cold dark period, which highlight the gritty intensity of the play.

It’s not all doom and gloom as Buffong manages to find the humorous elements in the show and heighten them in order to lift the darkness of the play. Character’s such as Lear’s jester Fool played by Miltos Yerolemou explores humour as he delivers wise advice to Lear through a series of funny songs and rhymes. Similarly, Oswald is played exceptionally by Thomas Coombes whose camp approach to the role had the audience roaring with laughter.

Ultimately it is a play about loyalty and Lear’s three daughters challenge the idea of loyalty superbly. Each sister has an admirable strength, Cordelia (Pepter Lunkuse), Goneril (Rakie Ayola) and Regan (Debbie Korley) all exude supremacy. They’re period costumes are spectacularly designed to create an air of majestic confidence and superiority which is reflected in their dialogue.

Warrington provides a commanding performance as Lear who descends into complete madness, it is a highly relevant Shakespeare play that explores dementia and it’s affect on a man. Lear, being a highly powerful being, becomes lost in his own mind and struggles to maintain his dominance that he portrays in the opening scene. Warrington’s character progression is strong as he deteriorates slowly into a weak, vulnerable man.

Alfred Enoch (well known for Harry Potter and How To Get Away With Murder) gives an electric performance as Edgar. Opening act two, his characterisation is strong as he plays multiple roles due to being in disguise throughout the play. He manages to maintain a distinct shift in depiction of each role as he portrays each one cogently.

King Lear is a play about family, justice and the loss and gain of power, it is a well-crafted production with a stellar cast.

King Lear is on at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre until the 28th of May and tickets can be found here.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • Birmingham Rep
  • Birmingham Repertory Theatre
  • King Lear
  • Royal Exchange Theatre
  • Shakespeare
  • Shakespeare 400
  • Talawa Theatre Company
Amy

Previous Article
  • Travel

5 UK Camping Destinations For Novice Campers

  • 23rd May 2016
  • Amy
View Post
Next Article
  • Travel

Wanderlust Wishlist: 3 Stunning Portugal Locations

  • 27th May 2016
  • Amy
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | Women in Theatre’s ‘Women in Lockdown’

  • 16th November 2020
  • Amy
View Post
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Theatre

Sleepless – the new musical about hope, love & magic that we all need right now

  • 26th August 2020
  • Amy
View Post
  • Features
  • Theatre

The West Midlands Work Together on the Arts and Culture Comeback

  • 18th June 2020
  • Amy
Back to the Future musical at Manchester's Opera House review
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | Back to the Future | Manchester

  • 12th March 2020
  • Amy
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | Poet in da Corner | Birmingham Rep

  • 12th March 2020
  • Amy
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | A Monster Calls | UK Tour

  • 4th March 2020
  • Amy
View Post
  • Interviews
  • Theatre

INTERVIEW | Ammar Duffus on Why A Monster Calls Opens up Important Conversations Around Grief

  • 1st March 2020
  • Amy
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Theatre

REVIEW | The Prince of Egypt | West End

  • 28th February 2020
  • Amy
4 comments
  1. John says:
    29th May 2016 at 10:31 am

    Ahaa, its nice conversation concerning this paragraph here at
    this blog, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting at
    this place.

    Reply
  2. Jason says:
    30th May 2016 at 2:46 am

    I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written!

    Reply
    1. Amy says:
      30th May 2016 at 7:54 am

      Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Search
about
Amy Stutz
Follow Us
AMY STUTZ
UK Arts, Culture and Theatre Blog

Input your search keywords and press Enter.