This shattering drama of isolation and loss is one of the greatest tragedies in world literature.
King Lear of Britain has three daughters: the hard-hearted Goneril and Regan, and the good and gentle Cordelia. He determines to divide his kingdom between them, giving the largest share to she who can say she loves him the best. Lear’s tragic lack of judgement and self-knowledge is paralleled by the blindness of the loyal Gloucester who is persuaded to reject his virtuous son Edgar in favor of the villainous Edmund.
Lear is played by Trevor Peacock and Gloucester by Clive Merrison. Penny Downie is Goneril, Samantha Bond is Regan, and Julia Ford is Cordelia. Edgar is played by David Tennant, Edmund by Gerard Murphy, and the Fool by John Rogan.
E. A. Copen is a coffee addict living in southern Kentucky with her cats and books. When she's not writing, she enjoys cooking and watching just about everything but romantic comedies (unless there are zombies in them). She's been a film school dropout, a professional puppeteer, and retail rebel, all of which allowed her to develop a cynical sense of humor. She is also an unapologetic nerd and occasional enjoyer of comic books and anime. She is a prolific writer of inclusive, action-oriented urban fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Several of her novels have been Amazon bestsellers.
William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), many of which are regarded as the most exceptional works of drama ever produced, including Romeo and Juliet (1595), Henry V (1599), Hamlet (1601), Othello (1604), King Lear (1606) and Macbeth (1606), as well as a collection of 154 sonnets, which number among the most profound and influential love poetry in English. Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616.
Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, the international runaway bestseller, is an investor, entrepreneur specializing in mining and real estate, as well as an educator. Rich Dad Poor Dad, published in 1997, has held a top spot on the famed New York Times list for nearly six years. Translated into 46 languages and available in 97 countries, the Rich Dad series has sold over 26 million copies worldwide and has dominated bestsellers lists across Asia, Australia, South America, Mexico, South Africa, and Europe.
Clive Merrison is a film, stage, and television actor who has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and the Old Vic. He and Michael Williams are the only acting duo to have completed the entire canon of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories.
. Samantha Bond is best known for her role as Miss Moneypenny in several James Bond films, including Die Another Day, The World is Not Enough, Tomorrow Never Dies, and GoldenEye. Her many television credits include Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Rampole of the Bailey, and Downton Abbey. She is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and has appeared in multiple performances on Broadway and London's West End. A native of England, Bond’s audiobook credits include reading classic works by Agatha Christie and John Milton. Of her narration ability, AudioFile magazine has stated, “Samantha Bond...does a top-notch job with these stories. Her pacing is perfect, and her ability to switch from American to British to Russian-inflected accents astonishing.” She starred opposite Dame Judi Dench in David Hare's Amy's View at the Royal National Theatre, and, along with the cast, recorded the audiobook of the award-winning play. She also went on to narrate Dench’s memoir, And Furthermore.
David Tennant has won critical acclaim for his performance as Detective Alec Hardy in the hugely successful crime drama Broadchurch. He shot to global fame during his tenure as the Tenth Doctor in the Doctor Who series and has starred in a number of other award-winning films and television shows.
Gerard Murphy is an actor who had a long and distinguished career, appearing in such productions as RSC’s The Balcony and in films such as Batman Begins.