Red Bus Londinium Life

---

How many words do you need to tell a story? Do words get in the way of story? Can you tell a story without them?

Director Shu-wing Tang explores just this with his King Lear, which has had its European Premiere at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, ahead of a European tour. It will then return to Hong Kong for an inaugural Shakespeare festival, also directed by Tang.

Shu-wing Tang is no stranger to to London with previous productions at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2012 and 2015 and at the New Diorama Theatre in 2017.

Tang’s King Lear is presented here by an international cast of female actors, led by Cecilia Yip in the titular role. The story is told in 90 minutes and is completely nonverbal (though not silent). The set is pared down till it is almost empty with just a handful of props.

Every gesture, every look, every tiny movement is then left to tell the story – enhanced by lighting from Tsz-yan Yeung and a soundscape from composer Billy Ng and sound designer Anthony Yeung. The actors seamlessly move from one tableau to the next with poses created and held to emphasize plot points. At times it felt like almost dance-like choreography, at other times like mime.

There is no busy-ness here and while those familiar with King Lear will perhaps gain more from the experience (consider if you want to read a plot summary before you come), anyone willing to allow the action to wash around and over them will be rewarded.

While the entire cast were talented, standouts for me were Ting Kwan-Lau as Goneril and Peggy Chow as Regan who circled increasingly menacingly like predators eying their prey. Cassandra Tang captured a tender innocence as Cordelia and a light joviality as the fool.

It is slow. That is on purpose. You could see it as a relaxation session or a meditation. But if you can’t cope with slow, this is not for you. The person next to me fell asleep with her slumbering murmurs the only sound from a very quiet audience.

Have you seen King Lear? Let me know your thoughts below.