King Lear Broadcast

Family feuds, backstabbing brothers, two sisters fighting over the same man and a kingdom divided;King Lear: The Film was broadcast on BBC Four at 7pm on Christmas Day 2016. 

You can now catch-up with this award nominated, epic stage-to-screen production on BBC iPlayer till 24th January 2017 - don't miss it.   Watch now.

  • King Lear: The Film, starring Don Warrington (Death in Paradise, Rising Damp) is the stage to screen film, of Talawa Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Michael Buffong’s (A Raisin in the Sun, Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, All My Sons) highly acclaimed theatre production of King Lear; A Royal Exchange Theatre and Talawa Theatre Company co-production, filmed in the round during its run at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester before moving to Birmingham Repertory Theatre earlier in 2016.


  • The original "intelligent and theatrical" stage production played to sell out crowds during its run, winning 4 and 5 star reviews across the board and was described by the Guardian "as close to definitive as can be". 

    King Lear is a brutal portrait of a man unraveling - pitted against his daughters, against nature and against the universe itself. In an ancient Britain bound by loyalty to the clan and the power of the sword, King Lear decides to give up his crown. As he divides the kingdom between his daughters, family ties disintegrate, order disappears and the land slides into chaos.

  • Award-winning actor Don Warrington has been highly praised for his powerful and heartbreaking portrayal of King Lear, which resonates particularly as the UK’s awareness of the impact of Dementia on family bonds and decision-making grows. The casting of King Lear and his family as black reminds us that the presence and influence of black people is potentially un-documented in our ancient history and also addresses the debate about the lack of availability of roles for black actors in the UK.

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