King Lear (Ian Holm)

Ian Holm plays the tragic figure of King Lear who is driven mad by deception and his own foolish egoism. Lear makes a catastrophic decision, ousting the loyal and honest Cordelia, retaining his two remaining deceitful daughters who intend to dethrone him. “King Lear” is a tragedy that repeatedly portrays the restless intolerance of the young towards the old, the powerlessness of virtue in the face of deceit, and the fragility of the bonds which hold families and communities together. In this adaptation, made for television, director Richard Eyre sets the scene with admirable minimalism, allowing for language and gesture to be at the fore of the production, staged by the Royal National Theatre, to great acclaim. A majestic tragedy of misplaced trust and filial ingratitude.