KING LEAR 2015

17 January - 14 February

For Shakespeare's mountain of a part, King Lear, we needed some who had actually climbed a mountain... twice! When we began talking with Brian Blessed about the role, his enthusiasm, energy and commitment was infectious. It was a true ambition realised to have a giant of the theatre join our company, and our time with him was a complete joy.

We assembled a fabulous cast of regular GSC actors and a few new faces to bring this mammoth play to life. The show broke all our Box Office records and sold out incredibly fast - so much so we had to extend it!

Over 6,200 came to see King Lear, from all over the UK. Director Caroline Devlin gave it a Russian Tsarist quality, mixed with a flavour fin de siècle. A huge tower was constructed in Holy Trinity, with a massive ramp the enabled Lear move amongst the audience during the famous heath scene.

“This is why British theatre is such a marvel” Daily Telegraph

Long may theatre of this calibre grace the lucky city of Guildford.Remotegoat.com

“A beautifully balanced production” The Stage

“Heartrending” Farnham Herald

"The lady in the next seat to me came from Northampton and did a 6 hour round trip to see the play, she said how lucky we were in Guildford to have such a fabulous theatre group, and I totally agree with her.”Audience member

COMPANY

LEAR Brian Blessed

GONERIL Rosalind Blessed

REGAN Sarah Gobran

CORDELIA/FOOL Emily Tucker 

ALBANY Simon Hepworth

CORNWALL Richard Neale

KING OF FRANCE/OSWALD Timothy Allsop

BURGUNDY/EDGAR Matt Pinches 

KENT Noel White

GLOUCESTER James Sobol Kelly

EDMUND Ben Ashton

ENSEMBLE Louise Best, Laurence Easton, Harry Anton

ARTISTIC TEAM

Director/Adaptor Caroline Devlin

Designer Neil Irish

Lighting Designer Declan Randall

Sound Designer Matt Eaton

Fight Director Philip d’Orléans

Movement Director Vanessa Cook

Verse & Vocal Coach Sarah Stephenson

Assistant Director Richard Neale

Assistant Designer Anett Black

Production Manager Tamsin Rose

DSM Dan Read

ASM Kate Wilson

Photography Steve Porter