King Lear Research Paper

Being considered a classic is no defence nowadays, and many are those who would like to see The Bard’s enduring influence to wane. Tying in with this year’s production of King Lear at the Malta Arts Festival, four experts tell Veronica Stivala why these people are wrong.

Joseph Marcell as Lear and Bethane Cullinane as Cordelia in the Globe Theatre’s King Lear. Photo: Ellie Kurttz

Joseph Marcell as Lear and Bethane Cullinane as Cordelia in the Globe Theatre’s King Lear. Photo: Ellie Kurttz

He’s 450 years old and yet, not only do we perform his plays, but we recognise ourselves in them, and continue to use phrases and words he coined in our everyday language. To tie in with the Globe Theatre’s production of King Lear at this year’s Malta

Simone Ellul, theatre practitioner

I enjoyed Shakespeare at secondary school so much I went on to read the Merchant of Venice just for fun. I eventually wrote two theses on the playwright: the first, for my BA (Hons), was about Shakespeare on film.

I then went on to read for a Master’s in Staging Shakespeare at the University of Exeter, and for my final performance directed a multilingual version of Othello. The reason for my interest in Shakespeare can be attributed to his “excellently well-penned” text, but also to the fact that he developed the concept of the character and changed the acting style of his age, as well as developing new genres. Studying Shakespeare has helped me appreciate and understand not only his works, but theatre in general.

From cutting-edge theatre, to pop music through tracks like Mumford and Sons’ Sigh No More, Shakespeare remains our

“Why do I have to read this, it doesn’t make any sense!’” Look-ing back now, I am of the notion that I was partially right. Shakespeare’s words were always meant to be off the page; performed to an audience, every-where and anywhere.

Shakespeare is a timeless, grammatical genius with a profound understanding of the human condition. His text captures every nuanced emotion, intention and action, while allowing the actor to convey these 400-year-old stories which still resonate with each indivi-dual. The more I understand it, the more I want to work with it.

When you watch a play of his, you see bits of your life unfolding on stage which you respond to instantaneously. His deep insight into human nature not only makes him immortal, but also leaves us with subtle life lessons to be learnt. Shakespeare is one of the greats and will continue to influence people from all walks of life for time to come.

Erica