by Martin Jenkins
Lear, arguably Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, has attracted all the major actors from Burbage and Betterton to Gielgud and Scofield; and each has brought his own individual stamp to this most difficult of roles. This programme examines not only their performances by means of contemporary critical reviews, personal memoirs and reminiscences - but it also shows the moral, social, political and financial stresses which have accompanied the play itself. The history of King Lear mirrors in some way the whole history of the English classical theatre and highlights the constantly changing pattern of attitudes to both the play and the central characters.
With TIMOTHY BATESON , BRUCE BEEBY , GAVIN CAMPBELL , GEOFFREY COLLINS , WALTER HALL , ALAN ROWE. BRIAN SANDERS , HILDA SCHRODER and JONATHAN SCOTT Produced and directed by IAN COTTERELL