Synopsis
A documentary about King Lear, and how Shakespeare took a well known fairy tale and turned it into a dark play about family relationships.
Further Information
Similar plays, poems and sonnets
Shakespeare In Perspective | King Lear
In his personal view, Professor Frank Kermode suggests that 'one purpose of tragedy may be to make us look steadily at things we prefer not to think about, death, of course, and the way the world works'.
Artsnight 2016 | The Year of King Lear
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.