King Lear

PLOT SUMMARY

Written by William Shakespeare

Dated around 1606-1607

Tragedy

Key characters include King Lear, Cordelia, Goneril, Regan, Gloucester, Edgar and Edmund.

Blow winds and crack your cheeks! (Lear, Act III, Scene 2)

When the aged King Lear relinquishes his empire, he divides it among his three daughters, promising the largest share to the one who professes to love him the most. The older daughters, Goneril and Regan, flatter him, but the youngest, Cordelia, refuses to engage in such insincere flattery.

This leads to Lear disowning and banishing Cordelia, who then marries the king of France. Goneril and Regan then turn on Lear, leaving him to wander madly in a furious storm.

King Lear is a nightmarish family drama of global proportions that forces us to confront our humanity and the profound need for compassion.

CHARACTERS

Stylised white letter 'L' on a black background
King Lear
Stylised white letter 'C on a black background
Cordelia
Stylised white letter 'R' on a black background
Regan
Stylised white letter 'G' on a black background
Gloucester
Stylised white letter 'E' on a black background
Edmund
Stylised white letter 'G' on a black background
Goneril

PAST PRODUCTIONS

A woman looks upwards. Behind her are two other women looking at her.

In 2022 King Lear was directed by Helena Kaut-Howson. The production starred Kathryn Hunter in the title role, with Marcello Magni and Michelle Terry.

So far, Shakespeare’s Globe has staged King Lear six times:

1999 – Kathakali King Lear

2001 – dir. Barry Kyle

2008 – dir. Dominic Dromgoole

2014 – dir. Bill Buckhurst

2017 – dir. Nancy Meckler

2022 – dir. Helena Kaut-Howson

WATCH ON GLOBE PLAYER

Photo of actors on stage, including a woman in white gazing at an older man in an army uniform and a crown

King Lear (2007)

Best known as Artistic Director of Shared Experience for over 20 years and with numerous credits including the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre, Nancy Meckler brings her charismatic style to the Globe for the first time in this heart-rending 2017 production of King Lear.

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EVENTS

While we don’t currently have any King Lear events, why not dive into our current shows and discover great live theatre from just £5?

'Hansel and Gretel' show artwork depicts a replica of the Globe made from gingerbread cake sits on a log slice in the centre of the image, surrounded by truffles and rosemary sprigs that imitate trees and boulders. White icing mimics icicles, and some orange icing drips down the walls. Powdered sugar drifts onto the platter like snow. Centred at the top of the image, white block-text reads ‘HANSEL AND GRETEL’.

Hansel and Gretel

Globe Theatre
Tuck into ‘a real treat’ ★★★★ (Time Out) for the whole family, as Hansel and Gretel returns to the Globe Theatre this winter. Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s epic version of the famous fairy tale is ‘a riot… with plenty of magic’ ★★★★ (Broadway World) for everyone age 5+.
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'All's Well That Ends Well' show artwork depicts a woman in a green suit sitting at a small circular table with stacks of playing cards and a single lit candle. She holds four cards, all Queen of Hearts. The card nearest the candle begins to burn. At the top left of the image, white block-text reads ‘ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL’.

All's Well That Ends Well

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Who said you had to play by the rules?

When Helen cures the dying King, he grants her one wish: to choose any man she wants for her husband. Rejected by the man she’s always loved, Helen sets out to get him, by whatever means necessary. Chelsea Walker makes her Globe directorial debut with Shakespeare’s ruthless thriller.
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'Cymbeline' show artwork depicts a woman wearing a sandy sleeveless dress, a chest piece of layered jewellery, and bangles. She stands against a background of pink and purple curtains, framed by a lit candelabra. She lifts an ornate foliage headpiece to her head, obscuring her face from view. At the bottom left of the image, white block-text reads ‘CYMBELINE’.

Cymbeline

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Secrets and lies. It’s human nature.

A secret marriage changes the course of two ancient kingdoms. For the first time in ten years, see Cymbeline, Shakespeare’s late, tragic comedy of love and rebellion, in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Director Jennifer Tang makes her Globe directorial debut.
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Three Sisters poster image, showing a woman in a white dress, holding a dove, next to a table covered in candles and ornaments.

Three Sisters

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
A life is a long time to wait.

For the first time at the Globe, experience the work of playwright Anton Chekhov with this twentieth century classic. Their world is going up in flames, one minute at a time. But can three sisters create the change they’re longing for? Caroline Steinbeis returns to the Playhouse to direct the world premiere of a new translation by playwright Rory Mullarkey.
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Three young people jumping over the camera under a stormy grey sky. One of them holds a crown. The image is overlaid with white text saying 'Macbeth', with the Supported by Deutsche Bank/Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank logo.

Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Macbeth

Globe Theatre
A daring new 90-minute version of Shakespeare’s tale of tyranny and ambition, created especially for young people. When three women predict soldier Macbeth’s future, he decides to fulfil their prophecy and seize control of the nation, but at a terrible cost.
Young People
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KING LEAR MERCHANDISE

Discover the complete and unabridged text of King Lear, fully annotated and with extensive notes. The Oxford Shakespeare is recommended for students studying at A level and above.

Treat Thyself

Stand out from the crowd with a kinetic storm of colour on this 100% organic cotton t-shirt, illustrating an iconic quote from King Lear. Part of our Print to Order service.

Treat Thyself

A perfect gift for any lover of Lear, this DVD of Nancy Meckler’s 2017 production at the Globe is shot through with touches of humour and moments of heart-rending simplicity.

Treat Thyself

EXPLORE FURTHER

A woman looks above as smoke surrounds her

A sneak peek of bringing King Lear to the stage – this blog was written as an exclusive first look at Kathryn Hunter as the despot ruler, Lear, as part of our Summer 2022 season.

This Great Stage of Fools

A collection of crowns sit upon the wooden stage of the Globe Theatre.

Take a look at the making of crowns, a key prop in any play about monarchs. We hear from actors, wardrobe and props about bringing royalty like King Lear to the stage.

Crafting Crowns

A woman with long dark hair and wearing a black dress stands in a forest, looking over her shoulder.

Watch a series of beautiful and inspiring short films made by students in response to some of our past productions at the Globe, including King Lear.

Shakespeare on Film

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