Theatre Review
King Lear
Photo by Hugo Glendinning
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Dominic Dromgoole
Shakespeare’s Globe
A review by Allan Taylor for EXTRA! EXTRA!
King Lear is a Shakespearian tragedy in which a vain king splits up his kingdom in accordance to how much his daughters love him. Flattering him, his eldest two daughters (Goneril and Regan) profess their artificial and shallow compliments. Cordelia, the youngest and most faithful daughter, refuses to massage his ego out of her honesty and loyalty. Mistaken for treachery, the king gives her nothing, but Lear soon finds himself tossed out by his eldest offspring and the truth of love is revealed to him. Dominic Dromgoole has excellently directed this incarnation of King Lear, paying attention to every aside, nuance and joke in the play, twisting the humourous with the horrible. The combination of lighthearted moments and serious intent adds an edge to it that is not apparent from reading the play straight off the page. Sally Bretton does excellently as the evil Goneril, going from sweet to sour in the space of a scene, as well as Jodie McNee’s fair interpretation of Cordelia; her pale and honest English Rose looks compliment the character beautifully. David Calder is every bit the leading role, and if you’ve read King Lear, it is almost as if he has stepped out of Shakespeare’s tale. He drives the action forward and provides a sense of continuity and royalty. The limited lighting and true staging give the play a ‘sideshow curiosity’ feeling, and yet the communal atmosphere dismisses any sense of awkwardness and courtesy. It must be noted that Claire Van Kampen’s composing work adds to the authenticity of the piece, providing us with moments of Middle English music, and on that token Claire McIntyre and Corrina Silvester put in a great effort as they sing their way through the tragedy. An overwhelming point was that it was very faithful to Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter, and for the emotion the cast invested in their dialogue combined so closely with the rhythm is extremely commendable. From Lear’s madness to the well choreographed battle scene (courtesy of Sian Williams and Renny Krupinski), this Lear does not put a foot wrong. Lear’s madness and subsequent downfall, as well as Goneril’s catty remarks and the Fool’s playfulness are all equally represented and excellently executed. Being the spring season, Shakespeare’s Globe is the quintessential English experience. Whether you’re roaming around in the yard, or seated in the upper gallery, it is easy to absorb the community feel and sense of togetherness that the venue instills; a very traditional and yet long forgotten aspect of theatre. You can watch the sunset as the play rolls to its conclusion, providing a cool, natural feel to it. If you’re seeking something different yet traditional, tragedy and treachery mixed with wit and jest, and that new experience, then Lear will certainly lure you to the Globe this season. Strong performances, very faithful in every way and unyieldingly traditional, the production’s strength is in its authenticity which provides modern audiences a taste of the origins of British theatre.
King Lear is running nightly at 7.30pm until the 17th of August For more info, call 020 7401 9919 or 020 7087 7398 or go to
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