Nearly Lear
BOOK TICKETS.
BOOK TICKETS.
No lift access to performance studio.
No refunds or exchanges on tickets purchased.
This is an Independent Hire event.EVENT DETAILS
Friday 8th May 2026
£18/£16
7:30pm
Duration: 80 mins (no interval)
Guidance: 12+
“Extraordinary…A magical, world-class theatrical experience ★★★★★”
Performed by Susanna Hamnett
Written and adapted from Shakespeare by Susanna Hamnett & Edith Tankus
Directed by Edith Tankus Additional direction by Steve MacGregor
What if the great and tragic story of King Lear were told through the eyes of his closest companion? In this dynamic one-woman tour-de-force, Susanna Hamnett plays the Fool (and every other character) to tell a story that – with an exuberant blend of tragedy and humour – honours Shakespeare’s language while taking a bit of poetic licence. By turns poignant, mischievous, tragic, and hilarious, Nearly Lear is a very personal journey into the heart of Shakespeare’s play.
This award-winning and internationally acclaimed ‘mighty theatrical force’ has enthralled audiences from Toronto to Aberdeen, and from Broadway and the Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House. It is the winner of the prestigious IPAY Victor Award for Outstanding Production, was named a 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Outstanding Production, and in 2024 won the Best Show Award at the Riverside Studios London Bitesize Festival.
“The show was extraordinary in its fineness. So detailed, skilled and full of heart and humanity…the reimagining of Lear was beautiful.”