Lear

LEARWritten by William ShakespeareDirected and Adapted by Finn Den HertogDesigned by Emma BaileyA Pitlochry Festival Theatre ProductionIn this bold new imagining of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Scottish theatre legend Maureen Beattie takes on the towering role of the monarch whose decision to test her daughters’ love unravels both family and kingdom.

A thrilling story of pride, folly and misplaced trust.A powerhouse of Scottish talent breathes vivid life into the tragedy, featuring Forbes Masson as Gloucester, Lear’s fiercely loyal yet doomed courtier.Directed by Finn den Hertog, following his acclaimed West End production of The Fifth Step and designed by award-winning designer Emma Bailey (Six! The Musical; Sunset Song) whose award-winning designs have been seen around the world.Lear is a visceral exploration of power, legacy and family, brought to the stage by some of Scotland’s most celebrated artists.From Alan Cumming:Lear has always struck me as a very intimate and painful family story stuck inside the middle of a big war drama.

I think in Scotland we understand both the idea of our land being fought over and how families can splinter in a second, so this Scottish and very female version of the play is the perfect addition to my first season.

I also want to bring Shakespeare back to Pitlochry and indeed to Scottish theatre.

I think we have moved away from him of late and I want that to change because our accents and our passion bring the Bard to life in ways that other countries can’t.