“When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.”
Act IV, Scene vi

A kingdom, ruled by an ageing, authoritarian monarch is fractured by pride, folly, and avarice in Shakespeare’s epic tragedy, King Lear. When the deteriorating King misjudges the loyalty of his children, the struggle for power becomes unflinchingly violent and callous, and ultimately leads to devastating consequences.

In this bold, contemporary adaptation, the inimitable Karen Vickery stars as a female Lear alongside an extraordinary local cast, including her daughter Natasha Vickery, VCA musical theatre graduate, Petronella van Tienen, and Bristol Old Vic graduates, Joshua Wiseman and Lewis McDonald. Director Joel Horwood, who recently directed Hay Fever for ACT Hub, shares that they were amazed by the level of talent in the audition room. “Having lived in the region for over five years, I had begun to think I knew every actor in town. The response to our audition callout was staggering, and I was overwhelmed by how many passionate, gifted performers attended. I could have cast the show twice over, at least”.

Prepare to see The Q as you’ve never seen it before, as Echo Theatre’s electrifying new production promises to be a spectacle of otherworldly proportions. “As an artist, I’m always looking at ways to innovate and challenge, especially with classical texts”, says Horwood. “I hope that our production will shine new light on this well-known, well-loved play, and that even the most ardent of Shakespeare-lovers will discover something new about the work. At the same time, it’s important to make Shakespeare accessible, and one of my priorities as a director is to ensure that audiences don’t feel alienated by the language”.

A family drama with global resonance, King Lear forces us to confront our own humanity, and dismantle our preconceptions of power. “Approaching the play, I was really fascinated by the dynamic between parents and children. From the outset, I knew that I wanted to cast a female in the role of Lear, and that opened up some fascinating conversations around mother/daughter dynamics, and the heightened pressure that often arises from parental expectations of their same-gendered offspring,” Horwood shares.

Along with a female Lear, Horwood has also altered the gender of several other characters. “Shakespeare’s plays are notoriously lopsided in terms of gender. It was really important to me that we reached parity within the cast, without needing to alter the text too heavily”.

Echo Theatre’s production of King Lear opens on 29 November, for six performances only. Don’t miss this inventive rendering of Shakespeare’s familiar story when it arrives at The Q. For tickets and more information, head to theq.net.au.