King Lear Tickets and Hotel

The Show
Following its storming success at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Shakespeare's iconic tragedy King Lear is on its way to capture the stage in the West End. After wowing critics and audiences in the sell-out show last year, Sir Ian McKellan seizes the demanding lead role again for a limited run of 100 performances being shown at the Duke of York's Theatre this summer. Directed by Jonathan Munby, this critically-acclaimed adaptation follows the harrowing tale of the elderly King who decides to relinquish his power and divide his kingdom between his three daughters. Each daughter is challenged to prove who loves him most with extravagant declarations of affection. Enraged when his youngest and dearest daughter refuses to play his game, Lear's world plunges into chaos, leading him to the brink of madness. Award-winning star McKellan shines as the deeply flawed king in a heart-rending portrayal which piercingly captures the emotional torment of a family conflict and a struggle for power.

History of King Lear
Written by William Shakespeare around 1605 - 1606, King Lear is considered to be one of Shakespeare's most famous and popular tragedies. It is thought that a number of sources provided inspiration for the plot line and crucial characters, including ancient English myths and the legend of Leir. Since its creation, there has been numerous adaptations and interpretations on stage and on screen. The modern stage has seen many notable performances over the years, with an array of famous actors playing the leading role.

What the Critics say
After the superb success of the production shown at The Chichester Festival last year, the theatrical hit gained an impressive 5 star review from WhatsOnStage, The Independent, Evening Standard, The Telegraph, and many more. Highly praised as a "production clearly destined for the London stage" (WhatsOnStage), Ian McKellan's performance has been widely applauded as he "reigns supreme in this triumphant production" (The Telegraph).

Interesting facts
In the original literature, Shakespeare describes King Lear as "four score and upwards" which is thought to represent Lear as being over 80 years old. This Shakespeare play contains more animal imagery and references to the natural world than any other of his written works.

Why book London Theatre tickets to see King Lear?
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