King Lear

10TH FEBRUARY – 1ST APRIL 2006
BMW GROUP PLANT OXFORD

Designer Hayley Grindle transformed the venue – a vast theatre space specially created inside BMW’s Info Centre – with a purpose-built concrete block which was used for the main playing area. The play’s main themes of avarice and greed, were reflected in the 1980s style costumes. This was in stark contrast to the industrial surroundings which reflected the epic nature of this towering and terrible tragedy.

Douglas Rintoul (Barbican, Complicite, Salisbury Playhouse) directed this dark Shakespearean masterpiece which saw some compelling and deeply moving performances. Particularly memorable was the final sequence in which Lear (Stephen Ley) appeared from the back of the Info centre and made the long walk to the front of the stage carrying Cordelia (Jenni Maitland).

Reviews

“Superb, compelling, should not be missed.”
Radio Cherwell

“Impressive tense tale of tragedy.”
The Oxford Times

“Stephen Ley is a heartbreaking Lear.”
The Stage

“It’s a stroke of genius to use a car factory to stage drama.”
Swindon Advertiser