Ninagawa directs King Lear
Following its successful opening at the Saitama Arts Centre in September, a prestigious co-production of King Lear, directed by Yukio Ninagawa, will transfer to the Barbican Theatre in London from October 22, before finishing its run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon.
The co-production between the Royal Shakespeare Company, Thelma Holt and the Sainokuni Shakespeare company in Japan stars award-winning actor Sir Nigel Hawthorne in the leading role. In addition to his many stage appearances, Sir Nigel is perhaps best known for his TV role as Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes Minister, for which he won four BAFTA awards. He also starred in the recent film of The Madness of King George for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.
Ninagawa's productions of Shakespeare, including the memorable A Midsummer Night's Dream, have been highly acclaimed for their stunning visual impact and unique blend of Eastern and Western theatrical traditions. His last production in the UK was Hamlet in 1998 with Hiroyuki Sanada, who appears as the Fool in King Lear, in the title role. In spite of many years' experience directing Shakespeare, the challenge for Ninagawa in this particular production has been to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers while directing leading actors of the Royal Shakespeare Company. As he himself has pointed out, "It's like an English director coming to the Kabuki theatre and telling Kabuki stars what to do."
King Lear will be at the Barbican from October 22 until November 20, and at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford upon Avon, from December 3 to February 26, 2000.
Sir Nigel Hawthorne and Hiroyuki Sanada during
rehearsals for King Lear in Japan. Photo: Atsutoshi
Shimosaka.
