Synopsis
With five major productions of Shakespeare's King Lear taking place across 2016, this film looks at why Lear resonates so deeply with contemporary audiences. The programme includes contributions from Diana Rigg, Timothy West, Antony Sher and Nicholas Hytner on why Lear is widely viewed as Shakespeare's towering achievement.
King Lear (2018)
King Lear divides his kingdom with tragic consequences, as chaos descends on family and state (contains some violence and some upsetting scenes).
Hancock at the Royal Festival Hall
Comedian Tony Hancock performing in sketches at the Royal Festival Hall, London. In one sketch Hancock appears as Lear with Joe Ritchie as the Fool, both in cod Elizabethan costume (mid-way through the routine they swap roles and then back again). Lear attempts a comic delivery of part of Lear’s speech in Act 3 Scene 2 ‘Blow winds and crack your cheeks’ (Hancock actually announces Act 2 Scene 2).