In Focus: Gregory Doran 2016

Antony Sher climbed another theatrical mountain when he took on King Lear in Gregory Doran’s 2016 production.

King Lear sits high up on a throne in a fur coat and crown looking down at his daughters who are looking behind them
Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

FROM FOOL TO KING

"Antony Sher is unbearably moving as the volatile king, in Gregory Doran’s stellar production full of standout performances", Michael Billington, Guardian, 2 September 2016.

Following his critically acclaimed performance as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Antony Sher played King Lear, one of the greatest parts written by Shakespeare. In 1982 he had been a memorable red-nosed Fool to Michael Gambon's Lear in Adrian Noble's production.

PAGAN WORLD

Sher's Lear made a spectacular entrance carried on a transparent litter to the sound of ritual chanting. On his throne, he presented an impressive but isolated figure, seated in front of a gleaming copper disc, which resembled the sun. Niki Turner's set and costume designs emphasised the pagan setting of the production.

REVIVAL AND NEW YORK

Directed by Artistic Director Gregory Doran, the production played at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Barbican in London in 2016, as well as being broadcast to cinemas worldwide. In 2018, the production was revived and ran for three weeks in New York before coming back to Stratford-upon-Avon for a limited run in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Sher reprised the role of Lear and was joined by some of the original cast.

You can buy the King Lear DVD of this production from our shop.

Production photos

Antony Sher as King Lear in King Lear

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Antony Sher as King Lear and Graham Turner as Fool in King Lear

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Oliver Johnstone as Edgar/Poor Tom in King Lear

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The Company of King Lear in performance

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Paapa Essiedu as Edmund in King Lear

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Antony Sher as King Lear, Nia Gwynne as Goneril, Natalie Simpson as Cordelia and Kelly Williams as Regan in King Lear

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Antony Sher as King Lear in King Lear

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Oliver Johnstone as Edgar/Poor Tom in King Lear

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Antony Sher as King Lear in King Lear

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Antony Sher as King Lear and David Troughton as Earl of Gloucester in King Lear

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Antony Sher as King Lear and David Troughton as Earl of Gloucester in King Lear

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Natalie Simpson as Cordelia, Antony Sher as King Lear and Antony Byrne as Earl of Kent in King Lear

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Oliver Johnstone as Edgar and Paapa Essiedu as Edmund in King Lear

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Antony Sher as King Lear, Natalie Simpson as Cordelia and Marcus Griffiths as King of France in King Lear

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Marième Diouf, Jenny Fennessy and Bethan Cullinane as Messengers in King Lear

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The Company of King Lear in performance

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Antony Sher as King Lear in King Lear

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Romayne Andrews as one of Lear's Knights in King Lear

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Oliver Johnstone as Edgar in King Lear

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Byron Mondahl as Oswald in King Lear

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Antony Byrne as Earl of Kent in King Lear

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Antony Sher as King Lear and Graham Turner as Fool in King Lear

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Antony Sher as King Lear and Nia Gwynne as Goneril in King Lear

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Graham Turner as Fool in King Lear

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Oliver Johnstone as Edgar/Poor Tom in King Lear

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James Clyde as Duke of Cornwall in King Lear

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Ewart James Walters as Old Man and David Troughton as Earl of Gloucester in King Lear

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Nia Gwynne as Goneril and Paapa Essiedu as Edmund in King Lear

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Clarence Smith as Duke of Albany in King Lear

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Oliver Johnstone as Edgar/Poor Tom and David Troughton as Earl of Gloucester in King Lear

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Kelly Williams as Regan in King Lear

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Launch Gallery

2018 US PRODUCTION PHOTOS

Mimi Ndiweni as Cordelia in King Lear. 

Photo by Isaac James © RSC Browse and license our images

Antony Sher as Lear and Mimi Ndiweni as Cordelia in King Lear. 

Photo by Isaac James © RSC Browse and license our images

Mimi Ndiweni as Cordelia and Antony Sher as Lear in King Lear. 

Photo by Isaac James © RSC Browse and license our images

David Troughton as Gloucester in King Lear.

Photo by Isaac James © RSC Browse and license our images

Antony Sher as Lear and Oliver Johnstone as Poor Tom in King Lear.

Photo by Isaac James © RSC Browse and license our images

Graham Turner as the Fool and Antony Sher as Lear in King Lear.

Photo by Isaac James © RSC Browse and license our images
Launch Gallery

DESIGNING THE PRODUCTION

Niki Turner's previous work with the company included designs for Oroonoko (1999), As You Like It (2000), Cardenio (2011), The Orphan of Zhao (2012) and The Witch of Edmonton (2014).

Her set for the 2016 production of King Lear was dominated by a large solar disc. This motif was echoed in the costumes for the opening scene, including the golden medallions on Lear's fur coat, the decoration on Regan's bodice and the courtiers' regalia.

Costume gallery

Costume for Cordelia

Niki Turner's design for Cordelia (Natalie Simpson) in King Lear 2016,  featuring a full-length skirt and fitted jacket with heart-shaped motif in sequins.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume for the Duke of Burgundy

Niki Turner's costume design for the Duke of Burgundy (Theo Ogundipe) in King Lear, 2016, comprises a highly decorated black and gold coat with wide sleeves, that reflects his elevated status.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume for Poor Tom

Niki Turner's costume design for Edgar (Oliver Johnstone) disguised as 'Poor Tom' in King Lear, 2016, shows a near-naked figure wearing a loin-cloth and covered in thorns and dirt.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume for Edgar, the mystery challenger

Niki Turner's costume design for Edgar (Oliver Johnstone) in the final scene of King Lear, 2016, where he appears as a masked challenger to Edmund.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume for the Fool

Niki Turner's costume design for the Fool (Graham Turner) in King Lear, 2016, included a pointed mock crown which was replaced by a cockerel's hat in production.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume for Goneril

Niki Turner's costume design for Goneril (Nia Gwynne) in King Lear, 2016, showing a matching coat and dress in a satin patterned fabric.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume design for the King of France

Niki Turner's costume design for the King of France (Marcus Griffiths) in King Lear, 2016, with a gold decorated kimono-style coat.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume design for the Earl of Gloucester

Niki Turner's costume design for the Earl of Gloucester (David Troughton) in King Lear, 2016, after his blinding.

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume for Lear

Niki Turner's costume design for Lear (Antony Sher) in the opening scene of King Lear, 2016.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume design for Lear

Niki Turner's costume design for Lear (Antony Sher) in King Lear, 2016, after his abdication.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume design for the Mad Lear

Niki Turner's costume design for Lear (Antony Sher) in King Lear, 2016, as he descends into madness.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Costume design for Regan

Niki Turner's costume design for Regan (Kelly Williams) in King Lear, 2016, which emphasizes her high status with the gold decoration on the bodice.

 

Designed by Niki Turner © Niki Turner Browse and license our images

Gold-leaf pattern and black satin materials used by the costume workshop to make Regan's gown in King Lear, 2016

Photo by Sam Allard © RSC Browse and license our images

Costume workshop sheets for Antony Sher as King Lear, 2016, showing details of fur coat and crown

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The costume workshop making the the floral garland worn by Antony Sher as King Lear, 2016

Photo by Sam Allard © RSC Browse and license our images

The costume workshop making Regan's gold-leaf patterned bodice for King Lear, 2016

Photo by Sam Allard © RSC Browse and license our images

The costume workshop making Goneril's purple dress with black filigree design and gold sequinned sleeves for King Lear, 2016

Photo by Sam Allard © RSC Browse and license our images

The costume workshop making the regalia for the Earl of Kent (Antony Byrne) in King Lear, 2016

Photo by Sam Allard © RSC Browse and license our images
Launch Gallery

GLASS BOXES

Niki Turner's striking set designs made great use of transparent boxes, firstly when King Lear made his grand first entrance, and then later when the Earl of Gloucester was blinded. The bound Gloucester (David Troughton) was encased in an illuminated box on stage as his eyes were gouged, blood splattering the glass surface.

GOING DOWN A STORM

Turner was equally imaginative and economical in her design for the storm scene, as a tarpaulin was hoisted up to provide precarious shelter for Lear and the Fool. The design was complimented by Tim Mitchell's evocative lighting.

Set design gallery

The Duke of Cornwall (James Clyde) blinds the Earl of Gloucester (David Troughton) in King Lear, 2016

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

The set for the blinding of the Earl of Gloucester in King Lear, 2016

Photo by Lucy Barriball © RSC Browse and license our images

The Fool (Graham Turner) and Lear (Antony Sher) shelter from the storm in King Lear, 2016

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Niki Turner's set design and Tim Mitchell's lighting for the storm scene in King Lear, 2016

Photo by Lucy Barriball © RSC Browse and license our images
Launch Gallery

Cast List

COMPANY 2016

Romayne Andrews – Soldier

Antony Byrne – Kent

Eke Chukwu – Soldier

James Andrews – Cornwall

James Cooney – Soldier

Bethan Cullinane – Lady

Marième Diouf – Lady

Paapa Essiedu – Edmund

Jenny Fennessy – Lady

Kevin N Golding – Curan

Marcus Griffiths – France

Nia Gwynne - Goneril

Oliver Johnstone – Edgar

Byron Mondahl – Oswald

Theo Ogundipe – Burgundy

Antony Sher – King Lear

Natalie Simpson – Cordelia

Clarence Smith – Albany

David Troughton – Gloucester

Graham Turner – Fool

Ewart James Walters – Old Man

Kelly Williams – Regan

 

COMPANY 2018

Romayne Andrews - Servant/Messenger

Antony Byrne - Kent

James Clyde - Cornwall

James Cooney - Servant

Patrick Elue - Burgundy/Messenger

Kevin N Golding - Curan

Tracy-Anne Green - Servant/Messenger/Nurse

Nia Gwynne - Goneril

Oliver Johnstone - Edgar

Whitney Kehinde - Messenger/Nurse

Byron Mondahl - Oswald

Mimi Ndiweni - Cordelia

Esther Niles - Messenger/Nurse

John Omole - Lear's Gentleman

Antony Sher - King Lear

Clarence Smith - Albany

Buom Tihngang - Edmund

David Troughton - Gloucester

Graham Turner - Fool

Ewart James Walters - Old Man

Kelly Williams - Regan

 

CREATIVES

 

Director – Gregory Doran

Designer – Niki Turner

Lighting – Tim Mitchell

Sound – Jonathan Ruddick

Composer – Ilona Sekacz

Movement – Michael Ashcroft

Fights – Bret Yount

 

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