King Lear on Boxing Day

Synopsis: Radio programme celebrating the four hundreth anniversary of the performance of King Lear, the new play offered to King James I and his guests at Whitehall Palace on Boxing Day 1606. Presenter Francine Stock tries to evoke the mood of the period and discusses Shakespeare’s reasons for writing the play with studio guests, including actors Fiona Shaw and Oliver Ford Davies; scholars Jonathan Bate, Michael Dobson, Richard Dutton, Brett Dolman and Tiffany Stern; director Richard Eyre, food historian Ivan Day and the early music ensemble Passamezzo. With recorded comments from actors who have interpreted the role including Donald Sinden, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier and Paul Scofield.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Radio
Transmission details: 26 Dec 2006 at 14:15 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)
Duration: 90 mins

Producer: Beaty Rubens
Contributor: Brett Dolman; Fiona Shaw; Francine Stock; Ivan Day; Jonathan Bate; Michael Dobson; Oliver Ford Davies; Richard Dutton; Richard Eyre; Tiffany Stern

History: Broadcast 400 years after the play was originally performed at Whitehall Palace, London. Part of a BBC radio anniversary tribute to the play.

SHAKESPEARE