Explore King Lear with a leading Shakespeare director, using both theatrical and academic techniques of interpretation. While the Guardian critic Michael Billington pointedly omits it from his ‘101 Greatest Plays’ it is widely regarded, both in the academic world and in the theatre, as among the finest of Shakespeare’s works. Andrew Hilton has directed the play twice, most recently with the late John Shrapnel as the King.  

Over eight Tuesday evenings he will guide you through the text line by line, shedding light on its glories and attempting to answer the many questions it provokes. As in previous classes he will be joined by members of his company, Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, to experiment with alternative interpretations of key passages. 

In advance of the first class, you will be sent a text of the play, and suggestions for preparatory reading. As part of this course there will be a reading week on 14 November, during which you will be given tasks to complete in your own time.  

Andrew Hilton's Shakespeare productions have been repeatedly praised in the national press for their clarity and intelligence. In 2014 he was awarded an Honorary D.Litt by the University of Bristol. This course follows highly successful courses on The Winter's Tale, As You Like It, Measure for Measure, Twelfth Night and Macbeth. 

£170