King Lear

Synopsis
A restaging by Trevor Nunn and Chris Hunt of Nunn’s 2007 production of King Lear for the Royal Shakespeare Company with Ian McKellen in the title role.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Transmission details
25 Dec 2008 at 21:00 (Channel: More4)
Duration
180 mins

Credits

Director
Chris Hunt; Trevor Nunn
Producer
Chris Hunt; Richard Price
Cinematographer
Paul Wheeler
Production Design
Eric Walmsely
Cast
Ian McKellenLear
Romola GaraiCordelia
William GauntEarl of Gloucester
Sylvester McCoyFool
Ben MeyjesEdgar, later disguised as Tom o’Bedlam
Adam BoothServant
Adam BoothKnight
Ben AddisKing of France
David WestonGentleman
Frances BarberGoneril
Guy WilliamsDuke of Cornwall
James HeffermanOswald
Jim CreightonSoldier
Jonathan HydeEarl of Kent
Julian HarriesDuke of Albany
Kieran BewSoldier
Melanie Jessop2nd Gloucester servant (Servant)
Monica DolanRegan
Naomi CapronMaid
Peter HintonCaptain
Peter HintonDuke of Burgundy
Philip WinchesterEdmund
Richard GouldingMessenger
Russell Byrne1st Gloucester servant (Servant)
Russell ByrneDoctor
Seymour MatthewsCuran
Zoe BoyleLady-in-Waiting

Additional Details

Theatre company
Royal Shakespeare Company
Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
King Lear
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
The stage performances recorded on video by the RSC and Theatre on Film and Tape (TOFT) are catalogued separately.

The DVD extras include scene selection and an illuminating interview with McKellen in which he talks about the play and his approach to the role. He also makes very interesting observations on how a performance is perceived on stage, in the cinema and on television.
General
Filmed in High Definition at Pinewood Studios.
History
The production is available on DVD from retail outlets and is catalogued separately.

The play was first screened in the USA 25 March 2009 on PBS in the Great Performances series. In this screening McKellen was not seen naked. The production may be streamed at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/king-lear/watch-the-play/487 (9/2009).

Production Company

Name

Channel 4

Name

Iambic Productions

Name

NHK

Name

Performance Company, The

Name

Thirteen/WNET

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "King Lear". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av71697 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)