Synopsis:

The first edition of King Lear developed by and for the RSC, with unique material, including a new introduction from Jonathan Bate and interviews with important RSC directors. Illustrated with photographs of classic and unusual performances, it features outstanding on-page notes which explain words and phrases unfamiliar to a modern audience, including the slang, political references and bawdy humor often ignored or censored in competing editions. It includes scene-by-scene summary, offering an easily understandable way into the play; a new introduction by Jonathan Bate, exploring the text and critical debates around it; a summary of the play's performance history, at the RSC and elsewhere; and interviews with important Shakespearean directors Adrian Noble, Trevor Nunn and Deborah Warner discussing key productions at the RSC.