Review: KING LEAR, Birmingham Rep, May 2016

The Birmingham Rep present another exciting Shakespearean production to celebrate 400 years since the great writers' death; this time it was King Lear. Directed by Michael Buffong, this production has the audience gripped from the start.

In keeping with where the play had originally been set, in Ancient Britain, the stage is simple yet effective with an air of darkness and the added effect of rain during one of the scenes, where it becomes clear that King Lear has lost his mind.

The impressive cast, with Don Warrington as King Lear, portray the characters extremely well and the overall acting is remarkable from start to finish, with no detail spared. Right from the opening scene you can, if you're attentive, see the glances between Goneril, King Lear's eldest daughter, and Edmund, the Earl of Gloucester's youngest, bastard son.

As King Lear transcends deeper into darkness and insanity, Warrington's representation does not falter, and neither do the characters surrounding him. The issue of growing old is a key theme throughout the play and highlights many issues that we face in today's society.

The characters evoke a fair few emotions throughout the evening, from the occasional outbursts of laughter, to real horrified gasps when the Earl of Gloucester has his eyes gouged out. This play keeps on giving to the very end.

The ending scene has the audience sitting in complete silence, whilst King Lear cries out over the death of Cordelia, the youngest and favourite of his daughters, before being overcome with emotion and dying himself.

If you are a Shakespeare fan, this is one not to miss!

Photo: Jonathan Keenan
Words: Elena Bloomfield

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