Lear @ Barbican Theatre - Review
An exciting re-staging that loses none of The Bard's energy. ★★★★★
At the Barbican Theatre until October 6th 2024.
Tickets from £16 (£15 Young Barbican).
Rating: ★★★★★
On paper it feels an odd choice to perform Shakespeare’s King Lear in Changgeuk (Korean opera), but this confident, skilled production absolutely carries it off. Overwhelmingly, the impression is of a creative team that wholly gets Shakespeare, not just the story. All my favourite things about his work, from the laugh out loud comedy in the midst of tragedy to the universal nature of the characters in far-fetched stories, are perfectly maintained. This would be impressive for a simple staging in the original language, but to do it while translating it into a Korean language opera is masterful.
I love the sound of opera, but often find it challenging in plot-heavy dramas where it can make words unclear if not perfectly executed. This production, with singing in Korean and English translations on a panel above, allowed for the best of both worlds. The vocal range and skill of all performers is hugely impressive, and even more so their cohesion when they sing together as chorus. The stand out performer is Yu Tae Pyung Yang as the Earl of Gloucester, with fantastic comic and tragic range, and a commanding presence.
The staging is innovative and fascinating, with a water filled river crossing the stage and little other dressing. It’s a credit to all performers that they managed to so naturally use it, despite the risk and discomfort of water in such an involved production. It ties in with songs comparing Lear to water, an evolving metaphor throughout that is well executed and charming, if a little contrived. Costuming is less impressive but certainly not bad, muted traditional Korean clothing with a few olde English twists.
It was disappointing to see the theatre so empty, and I would urge anyone who can to catch the final performances. This is not only a thrilling adaptation of King Lear as a Shakespear fan, it is told with clarity and concision that make it an excellent first time seeing the story for people not usually gripped by Shakespeare’s work.
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