Hong Kong film star Cecilia Yip to star in new King Lear play in London
Film star Cecilia Yip will star in a Hong Kong version of King Lear at the Riverside Studios in London.
The performance will premier on May 2nd at the Riverside Studios near Hammersmith.
One of Shakespeare’s famous four great tragedies, ‘King Lear’ tells the story of King Lear. His two daughters deceive him with flattering words, and he disperses his kingdom to them. However, he becomes extremely disappointed and angry with his youngest daughter. Despite this disappointment, she expresses sincere love for him stating: ‘My love for you cannot be expressed in words.’ King Lear eventually descends into desolate wandering and profound grief. Can words truly reflect the actual truth?
Cecilia Yip will star as King Lear and this play uses a nonverbal Theatre of Gesture. Without words, it transcends traditional boundaries while remaining quintessentially Shakespearean. The physical theatre production, featuring an all-female cast from Hong Kong and the National Theatre Marin Sorescu of Craiova, promises a provocative and rarely-seen performance of this classic. Their performance builds on highly minimalistic and stylized aesthetics created by a team of visionary artists from Hong Kong. Whether it is for hearing individuals, the hearing impaired, or those who speak different languages, everyone can find intellectual and emotional common ground in this silent physical drama, achieving self-expression and exploration.
The physical theatre production of ‘King Lear’ kicks off this year’s European tour in London.
Hong Kong director Tang Shu-Wing (鄧樹榮) directed this version of King Lear. It stars famous film star Cecilia Yip (葉童).
Cecilia Yip has won the ‘Performer of the Year’ award from the International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC-HK) for this play. Tang Shu-Wing has also received the ‘Director of the Year’ award again for this work. Meanwhile, sound designer Anthony Yeung was nominated for ‘Best Sound Design’ at the Hong Kong Stage Awards.
This production premiered in Hong Kong in 2021. They also performed in Shanghai in 2023. This performance at Riverside Studios marks its UK premiere. It begins a tour with dates in Craiova, Romania; Berlin, Germany; and a return to Hong Kong for the 1st edition of the International Shakespeare Festival in Hong Kong.
Reviews have been very positive:
“Tang Shu-Wing decided to explore the infinite possibilities with a bold and original style. The adapted ‘King Lear’ is a new star.” — The Theater Times
“Tang Shu-Wing’s silent physical drama ‘King Lear’, using gestures, physical interactions, and occasional shouts, immerses the audience in Shakespeare’s tragedy. The all-female cast is a counterattack against the misogyny often found in many of Shakespeare’s plays.” — South China Morning Post
“The actors deftly convey the inner through the outer.” — International Association of Theater Critics
“The main purpose of this performance of ‘King Lear’ is not to explore the performability of Shakespeare’s original text, its ethical thoughts, or the flattery between individuals which is difficult to express through words. However, the competition and conflicts of interest between the characters form a series of concise and powerful images on a minimalist stage, profoundly impacting the audience’s hearts!” — Theatre critic Folin
“From the inside out, the actors on stage are very capable of grasping and utilizing this aspect. Cecilia Yip’s performance as King Lear and Cassandra Tang, 邓天心, as the youngest daughter and fool are particularly outstanding. One can imagine that Cecilia Yip trusts the stage, the director, and her co-actors completely, which is a state of wholeheartedness; otherwise, it would seem timid. Her high-energy physical movements on stage are in no way inferior, including a scene where she must fall to the ground from a chair three times, which is forceful yet smooth, showing appropriate struggle and control over her body.” — International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong Branch) author Liang Zi, 梁子
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