A king announces that he will divide his kingdom between his three daughters according to how much they love him.

Lear thinks he will live out his old age with all of the comforts of kingship, and none of the responsibility. But the eldest two daughters, Goneril and Regan, have other ideas in mind - and he has given away all power to stop them. His vanity has devastating consequences for family, nation and climate.  

Our First Encounters with Shakespeare production, makes Shakespeare’s play about family, power and betrayal relevant for a new generation of theatregoers.
 
This 80-minute version of King Lear uses an edited version of the original play to create the perfect introduction for young people aged 7+ and their families.

For more information about the themes and contents of this play, please see our content advisory page.

With thanks to our Associate School partners and the University of Birmingham for their involvement in the research and development for First Encounters: King Lear.