At the age of 78, ian mckellen adds to the roster of his greatest achievements with this extraordinarily moving portrayal of king lear. The ensemble of actors will include ian mckellen as king lear, returning to the duke of yorks theatre where he made his west end debut in the 1964 production of a scent of flowers. King lear transfers to west end with ian mckellen in title role. King lear tickets duke of yorks theatre londontheatre. Ian mckellen discusses playing king lear, in this ebook taken from shakespeare on stage. Ian mckellen blurs reality and fiction in king lear. At 78, the lord of the rings star will lead the cast in johnathan munbys production of king lear. Edmund, edgar and gloucester are buddies the actors playing edmund, edgar and gloucester answer questions about their characters. Atg productions, chichester festival theatre, gavin kalin productions and glass half full productions are delighted to announce a major west end transfer for chichester festival theatres criticallyacclaimed production of shakespeares king lear, which will run at the duke of yorks theatre in london for 100 performances only.
A fine performance by kevin mcnally nancy mecklers king lear may not be a great production but it is an honourable one that gathers in a gutting climax voices. Sep 02, 2007 now, at 68, it is ian mckellens turn to do so. Due to phenomenal demand, king lear tickets have sold out. King lear tickets ian mckellen in west end transfer of king. But the actor, 78, has found a way to conserve his. Elizabethan english, the bards original text, flows from the actors mouths. Ian mckellen as lear a clip of ian mckellen as king lear. Two longlived kings on the london stage the new york times.
An aging monarch resolves to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, with consequences he little expects. Gandalf, one of the most famous actors to play the role of king lear, says that physical sets and props arent necessarily important in the staging of king lear because the language is what makes the play. Oct 11, 2008 king lear in 20 minutes a music video tribute to ian mckellen s performance of king lear. Instead, mckellen is chatting with the audience taking questions, and it is. Trevor nunn 2007 production king lear royal shakespeare. Ian mckellen as king lear dvd 20090310 20170211 duane i had to go to amazons uk site to get this, but i am the proud owner of ian mckellens masterful king lear on dvd. It was broadcast on more4 in the uk on christmas day, and shown on pbs great performances in the united states in march 2009. Instead we are left to marvel at sinead cusacks kent her oscarwinning husband jeremy irons is in the audience with us, willing her on as she despairs of her treatment by the ailing king but her. He joined an esteemed cast, including former theatre and tv costars sir ian mckellen king lear and jonathan. Ian mckellen reigns supreme in jonathan munbys clear, thoughtful, terrifically wellpaced revival of king lear in chichester. Sir ian mckellen king lear performance becomes live audience. Ian mckellen has said that lear will be his final shakespearean role and he gives a performance of tender, fractured majesty, as his. Ian mckellen manuel harlan the sold out chichester festival theatre poduction of king lear, starring ian mckellen in the title role, officially opened in a soldout run september 30. Mar 25, 2009 king lear, starring ian mckellen the play in summary.
Intricate and layered performances abound, with the obvious highlight being sir ian mckellen s towering king lear. In this video, sir ian shares with us some of the unique insights he gained into the play, through inhabiting the role of its title character. It tells the tale of a king who bequeaths his power and land to two of his three daughters, after they declare their love for him in an extremely fawning and obsequious manner. Ian mckellen on king lear shakespeare on stage by ian. King lear, starring ian mckellen full episode great. As extra there is a 30 minutes interview with ian mckellen on the dvd. Ian mckellen balanced lear s contradictions, playing lear as a kind father, violent master and vulnerable old man, and he infamously appeared naked during lear s madness. Ian mckellen gives a tourdeforce performance as shakespeares tragic titular monarch in this special television adaptation of the royal shakespeare company. Discussing ageing in king lear with sir ian mckellen.
King lear captured live from londons west end, see ian mckellens extraordinarily moving portrayal independent of king lear in cinemas. Thats it, ian mckellen insisted, when asked if king lear would be his final shakespearean role. King lear is shakespeares most gruesome tragedy about a nobleman getting his eyes gouged out, oberyn martellstyle hmm. With colm feore, liisa repomartell, jonathan goad, stephen ouimette. Acting legend ian mckellen will play king lear in a west end transfer of jonathan munbys production of shakespeares tragedy at the duke of yorks theatre this summer. In this video, sir ian shares with us some of the unique. If this really is the end, its a magnificent farewell. Ian mckellen blurs reality and fiction in king lear by willem gerrish 101618 2. Sir ian mckellen has apologised to theatregoers after an injury forced him to miss a performance of king lear. Ian mckellen delivers devastating performance as king lear. The war in king lear wraps itself up pretty quickly, and unless were left to count the human cost, the play lets us off the hook. London sir ian mckellen says his upcoming role as king lear in an upcoming london production may be his last major shakespeare role but he has. Damien played edmund in shakespeare play king lear, directed by jonathan munby at chichester festival theatre 22 september 28 october 2017.
When sir ian mckellen plays king lear in the west end this summer, he will be taking on one of the most emotionally arduous roles in theatre. Ian mckellen adds to the roster of his greatest achievements with this extraordinarily moving portrayal of king lear. He joined an esteemed cast, including former theatre and tv costars sir ian mckellen king lear and jonathan bailey edgar. No nude scene for mckellen in king lear on tv sfgate. Sir ian has talked of yearning to speak the lines again, at times as conversation. This film of the multiawardwinning production of king lear by the royal shakespeare company was itself nominated for an emmy. On this dvd he delivers a lear on a par with the twentieth centurys greatest, including oliviers. The audience just had to settle for some quality time.
He toured the world in the part 10 years ago in a rsc. He talks about king lear and it is very interesting. King lear is a 2008 television film based on the william shakespeare play of the same name, directed by trevor nunn. Yes, and formidably so in the case of ian mckellen, who first played king lear in a world tour for the royal shakespeare company just over a. Nov 01, 2010 he was in the middle of a huge scene in king lear, and he didnt need to have somebody messing up like that. The production was a contemporary piece with modern dress. Feb 17, 2014 after a royal shakespeare company production, a world tour, a run in londons west end, and a studio filming of shakespeares king lear, ian mckellen explains his understanding of the title.
Jul 11, 2018 chichester festival theatres celebrated king lear starring theatre legend ian mckellen transfers to the west ends duke of yorks theatre, with tickets available for a strictly limited 100 performances. King lear is everyones favorite shakespearean tragedy about an aging king who decides to become a nudist erhold up. The two texts of king learthe quarto of 1608 and the folio of 1623. As lear rails against man and nature during a violent storm on the heath, gloucester becomes involved in an invasion from france.
Gandalf portrays king lear in this televised version of the play, directed by. Must end 3 november ian mckellen reigns supreme in this triumphant production. First look at all new photos of ian mckellen in king lear by bww news desk. Ian mckellen said its all right that the fullfrontal nude scene he played onstage as king lear is missing from a forthcoming public tv version. Lear ian mckellen and his fool sylvester mccoy jonathan hyde earl of kent, ben meyjes edgar, ian mckellen king lear, sylvester mccoy lear s fool. I went on that nightcause we did two shows that dayand i made the same mistake. King lear is a supertragic play by some guy named bill about how, 5066. Ian mckellen has said his king lear, which is currently on at chichester festival theatre, is probably his last big shakespeare part. At 79, ian mckellen, can relate to king lear portland press. Sir ian mckellen took on the role of king lear in a 2007 production of the play for the royal shakespeare company, directed by trevor nunn. Ian mckellen reigns supreme in this triumphant production 5.
One of my fondest memories of my senior year of high school is when my english class read, performed and studied william shakespeares epic tragedy king lear. Feb 08, 2018 ian mckellen is to star in londons west end as king lear, reprising what he has suggested will be his last major shakespearean role the production, directed by jonathan munby, is a transfer. His reason shattered in the storm of violent emotion that ensues, with his very life hanging in the balance, lear loses everything that has defined him as a king and thereby. Ian mckellen to play king lear in london stage the. Volume 2 twelve leading actors on twelve key roles. Discussing ageing in king lear with sir ian mckellen youtube.
It is an amazing play with amazing actors, especially ian mckellen as lear. Fiftysix years after his first appearance in a professional production of shakespeare, this. Ian mckellen to play king lear in london stage the guardian. Sir ian mckellens performance as king lear has been described as spellbinding and magnificent as the production opens in the west end. Andrzej lukowski from time out said mckellen was hypnotic as a bullying monarch who uses language like a weapon he wrote.
Gielgud whose advice to a younger ian mckellan, we are told, was get a small cordelia, scofield, stewart, when an actor with in the classical. Greers harangueshe didnt like the old people or the teenagers or. King lear 2017 minerva theatre, chichester festival theatre, 22 september 28 october 2017 damien played edmund in shakespeare play king lear, directed by jonathan munby at chichester festival theatre 22 september 28 october 2017. Rent king lear 2009 starring ian mckellen and romola garai on dvd and bluray. Ian mckellen balanced lears contradictions, playing lear as a kind father, violent master and vulnerable old man, and he infamously appeared naked during lears madness. Jul 23, 2018 starring theatre legend ian mckellen alongside a cast featuring danny webb, sinead cusack and kirsty bushell, the piece is designed by paul wills with lighting by oliver fenwick, music and sound by ben ringham and max ringham, movement direction by lucy cullingford and fight direction by kate waters. Theres an iso image for a dvd with menus and chapters. Now a celebrity, courtesy of bilbo baggins the keepcase to this king lear dvd bills him as of the lord of the rings, ian holm was a great actor long before he was bilbo. Sir ian mckellen to return to the west end in king lear. It was finely acted by all parties but here is my one gripe. Discussing ageing in king lear with sir ian mckellen sir ian mckellen took on the role of king lear in a 2007 production of the play for the royal shakespeare company, directed by trevor nunn.
King lear is a tragedy written by william shakespeare. Ian mckellen to play king lear in londons west end this. I never thought i would be able to see him live, but live streaming definitely worked for me i definitely thought that the actor who portrayed edmund was an especially apt choice. Sir ian mckellen is magnificent in the west end, critics. Ian mckellen is to star in londons west end as king lear, reprising what he has suggested will be his last major shakespearean role the production, directed by. Discussing ageing in king lear with sir ian mckellen duration. Sep 24, 2017 this is a modernday lear and, remarkably perhaps given how starry the cast is, it is a true ensemble effort which mckellen never dominates. King lear is a 2008 television film based on the william shakespeare play of the same name. Acting legend ian mckellen takes to the west end stage in one of william shakespeares greatest roles as he stars in king lear at the duke of yorks theatre mckellen starred in jonathan munbys production at chichester festival theatre in 2017, and tickets to see the production at the duke of yorks theatre in london sold. Jonathan munby directs this nuanced and powerful the times contemporary retelling of shakespeares. Sir ian mckellen is to return to londons west end this year as king lear, in what he has hinted might be his final major shakespearean role the 78 year old stage and cinema veteran has been.
In each volume of the shakespeare on stage series, a leading actor takes us behind the scenes of a landmark shakespearean production, recreating in detail their memorable performance in a major role. King lear is my favorite play and i really love ian mckellen. With ian mckellen, william gaunt, philip winchester, ben meyjes. The plays action took place against a tumbledown theatre auditorium with rich velvet drapes matching the ornate scarlet military uniforms of. Prior familiarity with the play is probably necessary to enjoy this film.
Oct 02, 2017 the war in king lear wraps itself up pretty quickly, and unless were left to count the human cost, the play lets us off the hook. Since 2007, mckellen has played king lear over 300 times, and he will add another 100 performances later in 2018 at the duke of yorks theatre in londons west end. The plays action took place against a tumbledown theatre auditorium. Ian mckellen celebrity profile check out the latest ian mckellen photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Ian mckellen in trevor nunns otherwise spotty interpretation of king lear, which runs in repertory with chekhovs seagull wears old age as a coat of many, infinitely. Following its soldout run at chichester festival theatre, jonathan munbys explosive revival of shakespeares epic tragedy moves to the west end with a celebrated cast led by ian mckellen as the embittered monarch in a fractured kingdom. This week, he brings his lear to the brooklyn academy of musics harvey theater in an acclaimed and, alas, sold out new production. King lear the play in summary great performances pbs. The plays action took place against a tumbledown theatre auditorium with rich velvet drapes matching the ornate scarlet military uniforms of the players. Suggested by dashgoaudiobee mehro perfume official video song. Shakespeares wellknown story of an elderly king dividing up his kingdom between his three daughters is often regarded as one of the. Broadcast live from londons west end, see ian mckellens extraordinarily moving portrayal independent of king lear in cinemas. Andrzej lukowski from time out said mckellen was hypnotic as a bullying monarch who uses language like. Watch king lear pbs great performances ian mckellen a.
Sir ian mckellen is returning to londons west end as king lear. Sir ian mckellen gives a tourdeforce performance as shakespeares tragic monarch, in this special television adaptation of the royal shakespeare company production of one of the playwrights most enduring and haunting works. So ian mckellen drops his trousers to play king lear. The production was filmed mainly at pinewood studios in england it features the same cast and director as the 2007 rsc production, and started filming. That sums up the rscs whole approach, the headline said. Sir ian mckellen injured himself running to catch a train, and this afternoons performance of king lear is cancelled.