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Overview
Synopsis
King Lear, believing that he is surrounded by his enemies at every turn, is building a great defensive wall to protect his kingdom. However, his greatest enemies are not outside the wall, but within it: his two ambitious daughters, Bodice and Fontanelle. Betrayed by the traitorous sisters, Lear escapes to the countryside, where a kindly boy and his wife provide him with a glimpse of a more simple life. But when the boy is murdered by Bodice’s marauding soldiers, his wife - Cordelia - rises to become the new dictator, and enacts her own revenge on Lear’s daughters and Lear himself.
Edward Bond’s 20th century re-imagining of Shakespeare’s King Lear is deeply politicized and designed to invite social critique. A fairly loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic, Lear is both shocking and highly symbolic, using images of brutal violence to illustrate the intense power dynamic between the working class and their rulers.
Show Information
- Book
- Edward Bond
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- King Lear - William Shakespeare
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1971
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Lear's Kingdom and the Surrounds, 20th Century
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Dramatic Publishing Co.
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult, Late Teen Characters
Context
Lear premiered in 1971 at the Royal Court Theatre in London, and featured 26 actors across the approximately 50 speaking parts. Critical reception of the production was mixed, largely due to what was considered by many to be excessive realistic violence. Lear was described by one critic as not only the most violent of any of Bond’s plays, but perhaps the most violent play ever written since. The use of violence to enforce power is an essential theme in this work. In his introduction, Bond
to read the context for Lear and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
Lear, along with his advisor Warrington and his two daughters, visit a construction site. Lear has ordered the construction of a defensive wall that will surround his lands, and protect it from invasion by his enemies. There is an accident at the site, resulting in the death of one of the workers. Lear is dissatisfied with the delay in the work that the accident has caused, and orders the responsible parties to be executed by firing squad. His daughters, Bodice and
to read the plot for Lear and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
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Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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