Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director Gregory Doran is to revive his 2016 production of King Lear, with RSC honorary associate artist Antony Sher returning to the title role.
King Lear will tour to New York to play at the Harvey Theater at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in April before the production returns to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford for a limited run.
Many members of the original cast will return, including David Troughton (Gloucester) and Antony Byrne (Kent). Troughton will play Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor in the RST in August 2018 while Byrne, also an RSC honorary associate artist, is currently playing Antony in Antony and Cleopatra at the Barbican.
The cast also includes Romayne Andrews (Regan’s servant), James Clyde (Cornwall), James Cooney (Regan’s servant), Patrick Elue (Burgundy), Kevin N Golding (Curan), Tracy-Anne Green (Regan’s servant), Nia Gwynne (Goneril), Oliver Johnstone (Edgar), Whitney Kehinde (Regan’s messenger), Byron Mondahl (Oswald), Mimi Ndiweni (Cordelia), Esther Niles (Regan’s messenger), John Omole (Lear’s gentleman), Clarence Smith (Albany), Buom Tihngang (Edmund), Graham Turner (Fool), Ewart James Walters (old man) and Kelly Williams (Regan).
The original King Lear creative team returns, with set and costumes designed by Niki Turner, lighting by Tim Mitchell and movement by Michael Ashcroft. Sound is by Jonathan Ruddick and music is composed by Ilona Sekacz. The fights are by Bret Yount.
King Lear runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 23 May until 9 June.
For the first time, the RSC will host an exhibition of works of art created by Antony Sher. He has taken inspiration from the rehearsal room and onstage performances, creating a “captivating” account of his experiences.
On Thursday 7 June at 5.30PM, there will be an In Conversation event with Sher in the RST to celebrate the publication of his new book Year of the Mad King: The Lear Diaries.