★★★ King Lear: A Visually Striking Shakespearean Tragedy
Titus Halder’s King Lear at Sheffield Theatres is a passionate and visually striking production, bringing together an earthy, almost Druid-like set with incredible lighting design from Ryan Day. Richard Kent’s costumes, which blend elements of the old and new, work beautifully alongside the stripped-back set to create a world that feels both ancient and modern.
Ian McDiarmid is captivating as the ageing King. His unmistakable voice will be forever associated with Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars franchise. His King Lear is a man to fear: powerful, volatile and used to having complete control.
The play follows an ageing king who divides his kingdom between his daughters, only to face betrayal when the two eldest daughters turn against him. As Lear loses his power and descends into madness, the family is torn apart by ambition, betrayal and revenge. As his power begins to shift, McDiarmid brings a vulnerability that makes Lear increasingly sympathetic.
One of the biggest highlights of the production is Max Revell as the King’s Fool. His performance is incredibly physical, incorporating dance, hip-hop and incredible contortion to mirror and shadow Lear. Revell moves almost in tandem with McDiarmid, embodying the pain and chaos surrounding the King while McDiarmid delivers Lear’s soliloquies. It is one of the production’s most memorable theatrical moments.
Halder’s vision is clear — this is a modern and stripped-back Shakespearean drama. However, the Crucible’s layout and Halder’s staging presented some difficulties. With the actors frequently turning their backs to sections of the audience for long periods of time, there were moments when the dialogue was difficult to hear and understand. Shakespearean language is so central and specific to the theatre experience, so this made it difficult to become fully immersed in the performance. Halder’s production is bold and visually impressive, but the moments of inaudibility unfortunately create a disconnect between the audience and the incredible cast performances.
Despite the difficulties with audibility, there is so much to admire in this production. McDiarmid is captivating, Revell’s Fool is a standout, and the combination of Kent’s set and costume design and Day’s incredible lighting makes for some genuinely memorable theatre.
King Lear is at Sheffield Theatres’ Crucible until 19th September 2026, with tickets available here.
