With the World Shakespeare Festival set to begin in London, England, City Stage New West is joining in with its own tribute to the Bard.
The local theatre company is presenting its concert reading of King Lear on Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
"Shakespeare seems to once again be the playwright of the hour," said artistic director Renée Bucciarelli.
She noted that the biggest Shakespeare festival ever is happening in London this year to coincide with the upcoming summer Olympics, with more than 70 international productions happening.
"We thought it would be fun to be part of this international energy by kicking off our King Lear a day before the festivities in London begin on Shakespeare's birthday."
Bucciarelli directs a diverse supporting cast of young, emerging artists who are being mentored by the two veteran professional guests portraying the lead roles - both of whom are residents of New Westminster.
Richard Newman, most recently acclaimed for his portrayal of Shylock in Bard on the Beach's Merchant of Venice, will star in the title role. Fellow acclaimed Bard on the Beach actor Russell Roberts appears as Gloucester.
The young supporting cast will include Marc Antony Williams, a recent Douglas College grad who appeared in City Stage New West's Burning Up the Infield last year, and Luke McAndless Davis, a New Westminster Secondary School student who previously performed in City Stage New West's Stump City Stories for Youth chorus.
They'll be joined by Anais West, Afshin Haidari, Frances Kitson, Kenn McLeod, Leslie Dos Remedios, Lilli Clark, Munish Sharma, Veronique West, John Voth and Adam Weidl - some of whom have worked with Bucciarelli in training workshops that began months ago.
The youngest member of the ensemble is Grade 8 student Jacob Gold, whom Bucciarelli discovered while teaching a workshop on King Lear for the New Westminster Homelearners.
King Lear marks the second Lear-themed production by City Stage New West - it recently presented a concert reading of the Canadian contemporary comedy Queen Lear.
The focus of City Stage New West's programming this year is to get seniors and youth together.
"The Lear projects really pro-vide ideal vehicles," Bucciarelli said. "Our rehearsal process and our special programs have reflected the themes touched on in the plays, the passage of knowledge and power from one generation to another.
The staged concert reading of King Lear will be accompanied by Gordon Roberts on drums and other percussion.
Tickets are $15 general admission or $12 for students and seniors. Buy through www.brownpapertickets. ca or at the door.
- CATCH A CLASSIC
What: King Lear, a staged concert reading presented by City Stage New West
Where: Holy Trinity Cathedral, 514 Carnarvon St. on Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $15 general admission, $12 students and seniors. Buy at www. brownpapertickets.ca.
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