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King Lear: Talking Lear Series - Shakespeare - education resource

Drama English Performing Arts
A woman in a black lace dress aggressively holds the face of a man in a long dark coat. They stand closely together on a dimly lit stage with a large statue in the background. The man's expression is tense. The woman clearly holds the status in this moment.

Overview

Watch in-depth discussions about the characters and character relationships in King Lear from the cast of the National Theatre’s 2014 production.

The videos in this ‘Talking Lear’ series are full-length recordings from a programme of live Platform events held at the National Theatre in 2014.

Learning outcomes

These longer videos provide deeper insight into various characters and their relationships, for students studying King Lear at A Level and GCSE.

Watch

A man with white hair and a beard sits in a chair in the foreground, looking contemplative and wearing a dark outfit. A microphone is in front of him. In the background, another man in a uniform stands behind.
Play Video

Talking Lear: Simon Russell Beale on King Lear

Simon Russell Beale talks to Mark Leipacher about taking on the role of King Lear and reuniting with Sam Mendes.
57 mins

Play Video:

Talking Lear: Simon Russell Beale on King Lear

Simon Russell Beale talks to Mark Leipacher about taking on the role of King Lear and reuniting with Sam Mendes.
57 mins
Two women face each other in front of a large statue. One, wears a fur-collared coat, the other is in a lace-sleeved dress.
Play Video

Talking Lear: Goneril, Regan and Cordelia

Kate Fleetwood (Goneril), Anna Maxwell Martin (Regan) and Olivia Vinall (Cordelia) discuss playing the three daughters in King Lear.
36 mins

Play Video:

Talking Lear: Goneril, Regan and Cordelia

Kate Fleetwood (Goneril), Anna Maxwell Martin (Regan) and Olivia Vinall (Cordelia) discuss playing the three daughters in King Lear.
36 mins
Two men sit chained to a pedestal with
Play Video

Talking Lear: The Fool and Kent

Adrian Scarborough (The Fool) and Stanley Townsend (Kent) talk to Fiona Mountford about Sam Mendes’ production.
41 mins

Play Video:

Talking Lear: The Fool and Kent

Adrian Scarborough (The Fool) and Stanley Townsend (Kent) talk to Fiona Mountford about Sam Mendes’ production.
41 mins
An older man in a blue pinstripe suit extends his arm dramatically. Behind him a blurred figure is leaning on a statue labelled
Play Video

Talking Lear: Gloucester, Edmund and Edgar

Stephen Boxer (Gloucester), Sam Troughton (Edmund) and Tom Brooke (Edgar) discuss their characters and relationships within the House of Gloucester.
41 mins

Play Video:

Talking Lear: Gloucester, Edmund and Edgar

Stephen Boxer (Gloucester), Sam Troughton (Edmund) and Tom Brooke (Edgar) discuss their characters and relationships within the House of Gloucester.
41 mins

Production information

Olivier Theatre, 2014.

King Lear by William Shakespeare; directed by Sir Sam Mendes; design by Anthony Ward; lighting design by Paul Pyant; sound design by Paul Arditti; music by Paddy Cunneen; projection design by Jon Driscoll; fight direction by Terry King.

Photos © Mark Douet

Suitability

Suitable for 14+/KS4+

Keywords

Sam Mendes, Simon Russell Beale, Shakespeare, King Lear, A Level, GCSE English, GCSE Drama

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