Exploring Shakespeare

King Lear Act 1 Scene 5

The Fool (Sylvester McCoy) reminds Lear (Ian McKellen) about how foolish he was to banish Cordelia and favour Goneril and Regan.

Director interview (Trevor Nunn)

Trevor discusses the setting and relevance of King Lear, the themes and verse, and why it's paired with The Seagull.

King Lear 1:2 Extract 1

Edmund (Philip Winchester), Gloucester's illegitimate son, confides in the audience that he plans to trick Gloucester in order to inherit land bequeathed to Edgar.

King Lear 1:2 Extract 2

His plotting now well underway, Edmund (Philip Winchester) tells Edgar (Ben Meyjes) that Gloucester is angry. The scene ends with Edmund's smug soliloguy.

Philip Winchester (Edmund)

After filming Act 1 Scene 2, Philip answers our questions about playing Edmund and how he succeeds in his plotting.

Changeover - Seagull to Lear

The Courtyard crew take 1.5 hours to transform the stage set from The Seagull to King Lear. Watch it here in just 30 seconds.

Performance photo gallery

From Lear's test of love to the tragic ending, explore Trevor Nunn's touring production in pictures.

Rehearsal photo gallery

Join the King Lear company behind the scenes in rehearsal.

Teachers' notes [PDF 508K]

Activities for teaching King Lear, based on RSC rehearsal room practice. (You need PDF reader software.)

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Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia and Attendants.

The royal procession - Lear's final public appearance before he divides his kingdom.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 1
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

And find I am alone felicitate in your dear highness' love.

Regan (Monica Dolan) professes her love for her father to win her portion of his kingdom.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 1
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Thy dowerless daughter, King, thrown to my chance, is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.

France (Ben Addis) proposes to Cordelia (Romola Garai) after her father has disowned her for not taking part in his love test.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 1
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Love well our father! To your professed bosoms I commit him.

Cordelia (Romola Garai) says goodbye to her sisters (Monica Dolan and Frances Barber) after being banished by their father.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 1
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

It is his hand, my lord; but I hope his heart is not in the contents.

Edmund (Philip Winchester) sets the trap to trick his father Gloucester (William Gaunt) into believing his brother Edgar is plotting against him.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 2
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Follow me; thou shalt serve me if I like thee no worse after dinner.

Kent (Jonathan Hyde), disguised as peasant Caius wins favour with the King (Ian McKellen).

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 4
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters!

The Fool (Sylvester McCoy) proves he is the only one who can challenge Lear (Ian McKellen).

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 4
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

"Be then desired, by her that else will take the thing she begs, a little to disquantity your train

Goneril (Frances Barber) proposes to Lear (Ian McKellen) that he halves his retinue of 100 cossacks that have been running riot at her house.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 4
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Hear, Nature, hear! Dear goddess, hear! Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend to make this creature fruitful.

Lear (Ian McKellen) curses Goneril (Frances Barber) for her ingratitude.

Act and Scene: Act 1 Scene 4
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Seeing how loathly opposite I stood To his unnatural purpose, he� latched mine arm� full suddenly he fled.

Edmund (Philip Winchester) tricks his father (William Gaunt) into believing Edgar has attacked him and fled, when in fact the wound is self-inflicted.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 1
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

My face I'll grime with filth, banket my loins, elf all my hair in knots

Edgar (Ben Meyjes) works out how to disguise himself as Poor Tom to escape his father's guards who hunt him.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Weapons? Arms? What's the matter here?

Edmund (Philip Winchester) wades into a sword fight between Oswald and Kent. Kent has attacked Oswald because he comes 'with letters against the king'.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

What's he that hath so much thy place mistook to set thee here?

Kent (Jonathan Hyde) explains how Regan and Cornwall had come to set him in the stocks. Lear (Ian McKellen) refuses to believe him.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 4
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

This house is little: the old man and's people cannot be well bestowed.

The sisters Goneril (Frances Barber) and Regan (Monica Dolan) justify their treatment of Lear to Gloucester.

Act and Scene: Act 2 Scene 4
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

I am a man more sinned against than sinning.

Lear (Ian McKellen) rails at the storm, watched by Kent (Jonathan Hyde) and The Fool (Sylvester McCoy).

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 2
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Take heed o' the foul fiend

Edgar (Ben Meyjes) disguised as Poor Tom gives Lear (Ian McKellen) a warning.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 4
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

The little dogs and all � Tray, Blanch and Sweetheart � see, they bark at me.

Lear's (Ian McKellen) wits begin to turn as he imagines dogs barking at him when in fact the noise is The Fool weeping (Sylvester McCoy, in the foreground).

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 6
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

To whose hands have you sent the lunatic King? Speak!

Cornwall (Guy Williams) and Regan (Monica Dolan) produce a secret letter Gloucester (William Gaunt) had received from France, and accuse him of treachery.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 7
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee.

After her husband has blinded Gloucester (William Gaunt), Regan (Monica Dolan) reveals to him that it was his son Edmund who gave them the secret letter and betrayed his father.

Act and Scene: Act 3 Scene 7
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

The time's plague when madmen lead the blind.

Gloucester (William Gaunt) convinces his loyal servant (Melanie Jessop) to leave him for her own safety. He will ask Poor Tom to lead him to Dover.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 1
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

The poor distressed Lear's i' the town, who sometime in his better tune, remembers what we are come about, and by no means will yield to see his daughter.

Outside Dover, Kent (Jonathan Hyde) and The Gentleman (David Weston) share information about the forthcoming battle, Lear's health and Cordelia's return to England.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

All blest secrets, all you unpublished virtues of the earth, spring with my tears!

Cordelia (Romola Garai) calls upon the ground to yield up plants that may prove a remedy for Lear's madness.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 4
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30
Copyright: © RSC 2007

Bear free and patience thoughts.

Edgar (Tom Meyjes) disguised as Poor Tom has led his father (William Gaunt) to Dover and tricked him into believing he's miraculously survived a suicide attempt when he plunged over the cliffs. Now Gloucester is convinced he must endure his life.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 6
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes. I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester.

In his madness, Lear (Ian McKellen) reaches lucidity. His conversation with Gloucester (William Gaunt) reveals a new awareness of the world.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 6
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

Restoration hang thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss repair those violent harms that my two sisters have in thy reverence made!

Cordelia (Romola Garai), having rescued Lear (Ian McKellen) and brought him to the French camp, tries to wake him with a kiss.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 7
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

Do not laugh at me, for, as I am a man, I think this lady to be my child Cordelia.

Lear (Ian McKellen) awakes, recognises his daughter (Romola Garai) and asks for her forgiveness.

Act and Scene: Act 4 Scene 7
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

[Aside] O, ho, I know the riddle. [Aloud] I will go.

Goneril (Frances Barber) makes it known that she is aware of her sister and Edmund's dalliances. Edmund (Philip Winchester) has sworn his love to both sisters and their jealousy is palpable.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 1
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

"Men must endure their going hence even as their coming hither; ripeness is all.

On learning that Lear and Cordelia have lost the battle, Gloucester (William Gaunt) sinks back into suicidal thoughts and Edgar (Ben Meyjes) tries to shake him out of them.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 2
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

Come, let's away to prison. We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage

Lear (Ian McKellen) convinces his daughter Cordelia (Romola Garai) that together they will endure jail and outlive their oppressors.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

He led our powers, bore the commission of my place and person, the which immediacy may well stand up and call itself your brother.

Regan (Monica Dolan) defends Edmund for his part in the winning of the battle against Cordelia and the French. The triumphant trio do not seem in accord in their celebration�

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

Thou art a traitor, false to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father

The final battle between brothers Edmund (Philip Winchester) and Edgar (Ben Meyjes).

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

The laws are mine, not thine. Who can arraign me for't?

With her lover Edmund (Philip Winchester) fatally wounded and her husband Albany in possession of a letter which proves she was plotting to murder him, Goneril (Frances Barber) challenges the world to bring her to account.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

But his flawed heart � alack, too weak the conflict to support � 'twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, burst smilingly.

Edgar (Ben Meyjes) forces Edmund (Philip Winchester) to listen to his journey � how he has cared for their father and how, on finally revealing himself to Gloucester, it has caused Gloucester to die.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

The gods defend them

On hearing that Edmund had signed their death warrant, the remaining characters pray for Lear and Cordelia's safety.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, and thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more; Never, never, never, never, never.

Lear (Ian McKellen) laments Cordelia's (Romola Garai) death and questions the meaning of life when seemingly meaningless lives are allowed to continue when his beloved daughter is now dead.

Act and Scene: Act 5 Scene 3
Credit: Manuel Harlon
Date: 2007-03-30