Double Bill: Lear is Not Okay/ Lessons

A double bill of Almeida Young Company productions, devised in response to Yaël Farber’s production of King Lear by William Shakespeare.

LEAR IS NOT OKAY

Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Somewhere in London, a new King Lear is emerging. And trust us, like, he is not okay.

Join an ambitious young company as they audition, rehearse and embark on the greatest challenge of their lives– discovering who they are, who they definitely aren’t and why that seems to matter. Brace yourself for creative differences, awkward silences, a lot of grapes, new friendships, and drama that makes even Shakespeare’s classic seem tame. As the fight for the crown takes centre stage, which young actor will come out on top? And who will be left waiting in the wings…

Written by Benjamin Salmon (Blowhole; LOVE BOMB) and devised with the Almeida 14-18 Young Company, Lear Is Not Okay is a fiery and witty exploration of adolescence, ambition, and the unrelenting yearning to feel a part of something.

LESSONS

Lear; From Middle English laire, leire, lere, northern Middle English variants of lore, loare “doctrine, teaching, lore”, from Old English lār “learning, instruction, something learned; a lesson”.

Imagine if you were able to learn all the lessons of your lifetime in one go. Would that guarantee you a good life? Would it save you from any harm? Or would it stop you from living a life at all?

Our lives can be broken down into a series of lessons and sometimes lessons are spun into stories.

A new play devised by the Almeida 18-25 Young Company and Julia Head that investigates lessons; what we learn, unlearn and what we try to learn over and over again.