Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce that Kevin McNally will take the title role in Nancy Meckler’s forthcoming production of King Lear.
Kevin is best known for his role as Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. His other screen credits include The Man Who Knew Infinity and the BBC’s Fleabag. On stage, he played Claudius in Michael Grandage’s Hamlet in the West End and on Broadway, David Bliss in Howard Davies’ Hay Fever in the West End, and Alan Bennett in Nick Hytner’s original production of The Lady In The Van.
In the play, King Lear has three daughters, but no sons. Boldly he makes a decision to divide his kingdom among his children, but fails to anticipate the consequences of his actions.
His generosity is cruelly repaid and Lear finds himself adrift, wandering homeless and destitute. As he comes to realize the false values by which he has lived, he finally encounters his own humanity.
Nancy Meckler is the founder and former Artistic Director of renowned theatre company Shared Experience. Her numerous productions for them include the award-winning Anna Karenina, Heartbreak House, True West, The Birthday Party, The Bacchae and Orestes.
She has also directed at major venues including the RSC, Royal Court and Almeida, and is a former associate director of Hampstead Theatre and Leicester Haymarket. She became the first woman to direct a major production at the National Theatre, with Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
King Lear plays at Shakespeare’s Globe from Thursday 10 August – Saturday 14 October 2017 in the Globe Theatre.
You can book your tickets through the venue’s website.