Yellow Earth Theatre and Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre presents;
KING LEAR
By William Shakespeare
The Cube at the RST, Stratford-upon-Avon
5 performances only from 15 18 November 2006
RSC Ticket Hotline: 0870 609 1110.
David Yip known to UK audiences as The Chinese Detective and Chinese movie star, Zhou Yemang, feature in a futuristic version of King Lear as part of the Royal Shakespeare Companys (RSC) continuing Complete Works Festival.
Performed in the RSCs temporary studio space, The Cube at the RST*, the production is directed by David Tse Ka-Shing and co-produced by London based Yellow Earth Theatre and Shanghai based Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. Set in Shanghai and London, it is the future. China is the leading superpower. Those with money and power live above the law. Lear calls a video-conference to decide how his global business empire will be divided amongst his three daughters. We enter a vicious and visceral world where greed and ambition turns sister against sister, master against servant, child against parent. Betrayal, lust and murder follow Lear as he desperately searches for Taoist enlightenment. What hope is there for love?
Highlighting the difficulties of intercultural and intergenerational exchange, Lear and Cordelias fatal relationship is compounded by a Chinese Lear and an English-educated Cordelia, no longer fluent in her fathers language and reduced to saying Nothing. Providing a challenging cross cultural interpretation, East meets West in this exploration of Chinese and British identities, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, spiritual and financial wealth, family loyalty, and generational divides.
Including video, music and aerial work, the production remains largely faithful to Shakespeares original text with a modern twist. Audiences can expect flick knives instead of swords, but will see Lear addressed as King instead of President of a global business empire.
Performed in Mandarin and English (with surtitles in both languages), the cast includes: David Yip (Gloucester/Albany) ; Zhou Yemang (King Lear); Daniel York (Edgar/Cornwall); Matt McCooey (Edmund); Zhang Lu (Goneril); Xie Li (Regan); Nina Kwok (Cordelia/Oswald); He Ju (Kent).
Joining David Tse Ka-Shing on the creative team is: Jonathan Man (Assistant Director); Zhu Sheng Hao (Chinese Translation); Sang Qi (Stage Designer); Doug Kuhrt (Lighting); Wang Jiwei (Music).
The production will premier in Shanghai on 20 October. The production runs for five performance at The Cube at the RST* (15-18 November) before going on a national tour (see below for details). For tickets for RSC performances ONLY contact the RSC ticket hotline on 0870 609 1110 or visit www.rsc.org.uk. For all other performances contact individual venues as listed below.
TOUR SCHEDULE FOR KING LEAR: OCTOBER DECEMBER 2006
20 October 4 November 7.15pm
Drama Salon, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, No.288 Anfu Rd, Shanghai, P.R China
English Box office: + 8621 5465 6200 Chinese Box Office: + 8621 6473 0123 / + 8621 6473 4567
Tickets: 150rmb
Web: www.china-drama.com
15 18 November 7.30pm
18 November 1.30pm
The Cube at the RST, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Waterside, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6BB
Box office: 0870 609 1110
Tickets: £10
Web: http://www.rsc.org.uk
20 & 21 November 8pm
22 November 2pm & 8pm
Lakeside Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD
Box office: 0115 846 7777
Tickets: £12 (£9 concessions)
Web: www.lakesidearts.org.uk
23 November 7.45pm
24 & 25 November 8pm
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, Guildford, GU1 3UX
Box office: 01483 440000
Tickets: A- £18.50, B - £17.50, C - £16.00, D - £13.50, E (boxes for 4) - £74.00, Students/Under 18s - £7, £5 off ticket price for wheelchair access users + companion
Web: www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
28 & 29 November 7.30pm
The Arena Theatre, Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton, W. Midlands, WV1 1SB
Box office: 01902 321321
Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions)
Schools Performance: 28 & 29 November 1pm - All Tickets £5
30 November & 1 December 7.30pm
Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG
Box office: 0151 709 6502
Utext: 078 4065 9807
Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions)
Web: www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
6 9 December 7.30pm
7 & 9 December 2pm
Vanbrugh Theatre, (RADA), Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU
Box Office: 020 7908 4800
Tickets: £15/(£10 concessions) Thur Matinee £7.50 Sat Matinee £10/(£8 concessions)
Web: www.rada.org