Michael Pennington

One of the most esteemed Shakespearean actors of our time, Michael Pennington leads a distinguished cast in this epic new interpretation of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy which marks the 400th anniversary of his death.

When an ageing tyrant divides his kingdom, he tears his family apart, sparks catastrophic civil war and destroys all that he has.

Driven from his home, King Lear is wracked by madness as he battles a great storm. Yet with madness he finds reason, after betrayal he discovers loyalty and through his suffering a better world emerges.

Michael Pennington co-founded the English Shakespeare Company for whom he played leading roles across the world and has worked extensively with the National Theatre and RSC. He was made the first RSC Honorary Associate Artist in 2013. He played a much-acclaimed King Lear in New York in 2014 and starred in Bath last summer in She Stoops to Conquer. He has just been nominated for the 2016 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Winter's Tale at the Garrick, his fourth Olivier nomination.

The cast also includes Beth Cooke (Cordelia), Catherine Bailey (Goneril), Sally Scott (Regan), Pip Donaghy (Gloucester), Joshua Elliott (Fool), Gavin Fowler (Edgar), Scott Karim (Edmund) and Daniel O’Keefe (Oswald).