King Lear

Synopsis
A video recording of a production of King Lear with an all African-American cast. Directed for the stage by Harold Scott and videotaped for TOFT (Theatre on Film and Tape) by Patrick Hoffmann. The play is set among the Olmec peoples who lived between 1200 and 400 BC in Mesoamerica, an area which included most of present-day Mexico and the countries of Central America. Avery Brooks is Lear.
Language
English
Country
United States
Medium
Video
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Recording date
13 Mar 2004
Duration
162 mins

Credits

Director
Harold Scott
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Anthony Davis (2)
Production Design
Blythe R.D. Quinlan
Costume
Jessica Ford
Contributor
Patrick Hoffman
Cast
Avery BrooksLear
Roslyn RuffCordelia
Charles TurnerEarl of Gloucester
Ray FordFool
Justin EmekaEdgar, later disguised as Tom o’Bedlam
Che AyendeOswald
David ToneyDuke of Cornwall
John Douglas ThompsonEdmund
John Livingstone RolleDuke of Albany
Johnny Lee DavenportEarl of Kent
Jovan RameauDuke of Burgundy
Marie ThomasGoneril
Petronia PaleyRegan
Wiley MooreKing of France

Additional Details

Theatre
Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven
Theatre company
Yale Repertory Company
Production type
Stage Recordings
Historical period
Ancient Americas
Plays
King Lear
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Multicultural casting; Black actors

Notes

Notes
TOFT archives also holds: Videographer’s script and lighting and music cues script.
History
Opening night 13 February 2004
Reviews
David Dewett, ‘Demanding Love, Falling Into Chaos’. New York Times (February 29 2004). Manley Lawrence. Shakespeare Bulletin 22, no.3 (2004), pp75-7.

Archive

Name

Theatre on Film and Tape (TOFT)

Email
toft@nypl.org
Web
http://www.nypl.org/locations/lpa/theatre-film-and-tape-archive External site opens in new window
Phone
+ 1 (212) 870-1642
Fax
(212) 8701868
Address
Billy Rose Theatre Collection
40 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York,New York
10023-7498
USA

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "King Lear". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av37452 (Accessed 13 Nov 2024)