Ian McDiarmid is captivating in electrifying production of King Lear at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre
King Lear runs at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre until August 19
Forged in a crucible of war, revenge, adultery and complicated family dynamics, the story of King Lear is one of Shakespeare’s most famous and well-known plays.
A new production, directed by Titas Halder with Ian McDiarmid in the titular role, has just arrived at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre and the result is electrifying.
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McDiarmid was beyond captivating as Lear, as he took the audience on a journey from an arrogant and vengeful monarch - who seems to relish pitting his daughters against one another - to a vulnerable octogenarian with an ever-loosening grasp on reality.
At the age of 82 himself, McDiarmid is just two years older than the character of Lear.
And while he has enjoyed a long and celebrated career treading the boards portraying various Shakespearean characters, McDiarmid feels born to play Lear.
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He inhabits Lear through every betrayal and indignity as his situation in the twisty and tragic tale becomes progressively more precarious.
Richard Kent’s minimal staging combined with bloody battles on and off stage which leave the play’s heroes and villains literally stained by the trials of war and betrayal create a stark but harrowing atmosphere that feels more like something out of Threads - the Sheffield-set drama depicting life after a nuclear holocaust - than The Globe.
The apocalyptic vibes are compounded by some contemporary costuming that sees King Lear don a leather duster coat and jeans, while other cast members take to the stage in adapted Adidas jackets and combat boots.
The entire cast is deserving of praise, but Max Revell as the Fool and Harry Redding as Edgar were both outstanding.
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Revell’s acrobatic Fool contorts and twists his body while seamlessly mimicking Lear in one moment, before acting as a guide and empathetic companion to the fallen king in the next.
His mesmerising performance provides some much needed light in a play known for its darkness.
In some ways, Edgar is the play’s most tragic character, and Redding was magnetic and memorable in the role.
King Lear runs at The Crucible until Saturday, August 19. Visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk for more information.
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