Following the success of Rutherford & Son, Northern Broadsides join forces again with renowned opera and theatre director Jonathan Miller to stage Shakespeare’s King Lear. Broadsides’ Barrie Rutter takes the lead role at the Liverpool Playhouse from Tuesday 28th April to Saturday 2nd May.

King Lear is the story of a family at war with itself. Lear, an ageing and deeply flawed individual, wrecks his relationship with his three daughters and in doing so, loses all he has. What is there left? This question, which is Lear’s predicament and Shakespeare’s genius, invites us all to think upon what we might gain when nothing is all we have.

Jonathan Miller famously described the tragedy as “the most interesting play Shakespeare ever wrote”. With Miller’s keen eye for the subtleties of human behaviour and a sharp focus on the emotional power of the story, audiences should prepare for a ‘Lear’ stripped back to its heart and soul; moving and utterly believable.

Barrie Rutter, Artistic Director at Northern Broadsides, will play Lear. His recent works include Broadsides award-winning An August Bank Holiday Lark and also last year’s critically acclaimed Rutherford & Son directed by Miller, both of which toured to the Playhouse.

Jonathan Miller said: “Having worked with Barrie on Rutherford & Son I feel confident that this particular production will bring forward justly unrecognised aspects of this remarkable drama.”

Barrie Rutter will be joined by a 14 strong cast including Manchester Theatre award winner Catherine Kinsella, John Branwell, Fine Time Fontayne, Helen Sheals and Nicola Sanderson.

Tickets for Northern Broadsides King Lear are available to purchase from the Everyman and Playhouse Theatre Box offices, by telephone on 0151 709 4776 or online at www.everymanplayhouse.com. Tickets are priced at £12.50 – £25*

*A single transaction fee of £2 applies to all phone, counter and internet bookings. Cash payments and tickets £6 or less are exempt from any transaction fees.