…By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media.
Actor and director Kenneth Branagh is set to direct and star in King Lear in the West End, marking his first stage role in eight years.
The play will open at Wyndham’s Theatre in October for a 50-performance run, after which it will move to The Shed’s Griffin Theatre in New York, opening the following autumn.
The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company and Fiery Angel will co-produce the play, but the rest of the cast has yet to be announced.
Branagh discusses the play’s relevance
Branagh, who previously starred as Edgar in a 1990 production of King Lear, said in a 2019 interview that the play touches on issues of outrage and a lack of forgiveness, which he believes are pertinent in today’s world.
Branagh’s career highlights
Branagh has directed more than 20 films and numerous plays, including The Play What I Wrote in 2001, Macbeth at the Manchester International Festival in 2013, and a 2017 production of Hamlet.
He was nominated for a Best Director Oscar for his 1989 screen adaptation of Henry V.
Branagh last appeared on stage in The Winter’s Tale at the Garrick Theatre in 2015.
Recently, he has starred as Boris Johnson in Sky’s drama about the pandemic, This England, and as Hercule Poirot in a 2022 film adaptation of Death on the Nile.
He is also set to star in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and direct and star as Poirot in the upcoming film A Haunting in Venice.
Analysis and Commentaries
Kenneth Branagh’s return to the stage in King Lear is a highly anticipated event in the theatre world.
Branagh is a respected and acclaimed actor and director with a wealth of experience in both film and theatre, and his interpretation of the iconic Shakespearean character is sure to be a highlight of the theatrical season.
Branagh’s comments about the play’s relevance to today’s world are particularly interesting.
King Lear is a classic tragedy that explores themes of power, family, and loyalty, and its exploration of the consequences of division and lack of forgiveness is especially pertinent in the current social and political climate.
Overall, Branagh’s return to the stage in King Lear is a testament to his enduring passion for theatre and his commitment to the craft.
It promises to be a powerful and moving production that will appeal to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.