Shakespeare Magazine 11

KIng Lear
company like Talawa Theatre?
“Why is it important there’s a Talawa Theatre?
Why’s it important there’s a National Theatre?
It’s important because it’s important. Just as the
Royal Exchange in Manchester says something to
the people of Manchester and the wider world,
Talawa says something to its audience and is
representative of black people in this country. They
have a voice and they need it to be expressed.”
What’s it like to work as part of a theatre
company like this one?
“I think working in a company is one of the most
exciting things one can do. I like to start with
people I don’t know. It’s frightening and lovely to
walk into a room – not knowing who the people
are, what they are going to offer – and starting
from the beginning. I’m the leader of the company,
I try to be as generous and open as possible
because I feel that one has to set a benchmark and
encourage people to be as brave as possible. We had
that in this company, which is thrilling.”
Was it important to convey the family
dynamic within the production?
“It’s important that we believe in the family because
it is a family drama. It is about a man who decides
to give away what he’s got to his daughters in the
hope that they will look after him as he moves
towards death, like any family. We had to create
a family dynamic. He likes some of his children
more than others and whether we like it or not,
we all do that. We try to be fair, but we do have
favourites deep inside us, and that was the dynamic
I was looking for. Who does he like best? Who’s the
cheekiest? Which one of them makes him smile?
All of those things.”
The Royal Exchange reaches a wide and
diverse audience. Do you think that this film
will also help Shakespeare reach newer and
wider audiences?
“I think the film will get to a larger audience and
I hope it will capture the essence of what we were
trying to do, by giving a flavour of how it worked
in the space.”
Why do you think the character of The Fool
is significant in this play?
Actor Don Warrington believes that in King Lear
Shakespeare was exploring the theme of dementia.
“The relationship between Lear and The Fool is
a loving one – he’s given full licence because he
is The Fool. Lear gives him licence to be his best
friend, his child, his advisor and, when he becomes
too pompous, to prick his bubble. I think in this
production I’m very fortunate to have Miltos
Yorelemou as The Fool because sometimes the
alchemy of something is just wonderful. With him,
he fits me, just physically, I can put him under my
arm and that’s lovely. That’s luck and life. The first
time I did it I thought ‘Wow! This is just great’.”
The Royal Exchange is an intimate space set
in the round. Does that have any effect on
you within your own performance?
“I have to say, this is the second time working
in Manchester at The Royal Exchange. When I
first came here it terrified me. I thought ‘There’s
nowhere to hide in here’. But once you get over
the shock of it, one gets immense freedom from it.
I find the audiences very warm and very responsive
and I love coming here.”
Find out more about Talawa Theatre
talawa.com
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