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King Lear
By William Shakespeare
DIRECTED by Donnacadh O’Briain
SET DESIGN by Michael Vale
COSTUME DESIGN by Catherine Fay
MUSIC COMPOSITION by Philip Stewart
LIGHTING DESIGN by Sinead Wallace [Best Lighting, 2007 The Irish Times Theatre Awards]
CAST Gerard Murphy, Catherine Cusack, David O'Meara, David Heap, Enrique Fonseca, Liam Hourican, Declan Mills, Leslie Conroy, Maeve Fitzgerald, Rory Murray, Paschal Friel, Marcus Lambe, Will O’Connell, & Steven Bradley
Tours Wexford, Galway, Cork, Dublin :: January 28 – March 20, 2009
How power can cripple affection and love … a family destroyed
Second Age continues its Autumn/Winter 2008/2009 season by taking one of the greatest of Shakespeare’s plays to yet further unique and contemporary settings - King Lear opens at the Wexford Opera House January 28, 2009 and tours to Galway, Cork and Dublin until March 20, 2009.
Directed by Wexford born Royal Shakespeare Company [RSC] member Donnacadh O’Briain, whose Shakespeare productions in Ireland have been described by The Irish Times as “Inspired” and “As good as it gets”, this production of the Bard’s work has more of the best from the RSC starring the company’s associate artist Gerard Murphy in the title role. Newry-born Gerard Murphy,best known for his theatre performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has film and television credits including roles in the BBC adaptation of 'Vanity Fair' and the Hollywood blockbuster 'Batman Begins'. Catherine Cusack also makes a very welcome return to the Irish stage in this play in the role of Goneril.
King Lear is Shakespeare’s most modern of plays and this version by Second Age set in an urbane, industrial landscape, is brought to life in an unflinchingly contemporary theatrical production. Michael Vale, designer for Olivier Award Nominated productions, with both the English National Opera and Royal Opera House has designed a stage both beautiful and modern, reminiscient of the Bahaus Movement. Coupled with Philip Stewart’s original composition, and lit by award-winning lighting designer Sinead Wallace, the atmosphere is set to be electric.
King Lear is at once a family drama, putting child against father and brother against brother; a psychological drama, telling the breakdown of the mind of a once great man; and a political thriller, confronting us with the near destruction of a nation in a vicious power struggle. This Lear is set in a nation born out of civil war, and raised in the hothouse of the bitter northern conflict, where the gangsters have taken over – and we watched them do it.
Whilst remaining true to the language, this production promises a stark new vision of the play. A King Lear, that is modern, Irish, and that reflects the issues of our Modern Ireland.
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Wexford Opera House - t. 053 012 2400
Wednesday 28th Jan - Friday 30th Jan
Townhall Theatre Galway - t. 091 569777
Tuesday 3rd Feb- Saturday 7th Feb
Everyman Palace Cork - t. 021 4501673
Tuesday 10th Feb - Friday 13th Feb
Helix Theatre Dublin - t. 01 700 7000
Tuesday 24th Feb - Friday 13th March
Matinee’s: 1pm; Evening Shows: 8pm
For more information contact Second Age Theatre Company on
info@secondage.com or t. 01 6798542
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