King Lear

Theatre Royal Brighton, New Road, Tuesday, May 3, to Saturday, May 7

DOUBLE Olivier Award nominee Michael Pennington is set to take on the role of the king more sinned against than sinning in a new UK tour.

Pennington was a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s through to the 1980s and a co-founder of the English Shakespeare Company in 1986.

His 2014 Lear at the Shakespeare Center, New York was commended by the Brooklyn Eagle who said: “This is a King Lear to grieve for in Shakespeare’s darkest play”.

The ageing tyrant has decided to split his kingdom three ways between his daughters. But the decision sparks a civil war, as one daughter rejects his plans, and the other two turn on him when he takes their hospitality for granted.

Driven from his home he is left to wander mad and alone in a storm on the moors, with only a fool and a wrongly exiled Duke’s son for company.

The 13-strong cast of Shakespeare’s tragedy also features Beth Cooke as Cordelia, Pip Donaghy as Gloucester, Joshua Elliott as the Fool, Gavin Fowler as Edgar, Scott Karim as Edmund and Daniel O’Keefe as Oswald. The tour is being directed by Philip Franks, former associate director of Chichester Festival Theatre, who is best known on the small screen for playing taxman Charley in the ITV series The Darling Buds Of May.

The production coincides with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, which is being marked up and down the country throughout 2016.

Starts 7.45pm, 2.30pm matinees Thurs and Sat, tickets from £14.15. Call 08448 717650.