REVIEW: King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre – A Powerful & Dramatic Press Night 🎭
Our Trip To See King Lear At The Royal Exchange Theatre 🎭
On Thursday 8th October, Dad and I headed into Manchester for the press night of King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre. I was going into this production knowing very little about the story. Although I'd heard of King Lear, I'd never seen it performed before, and it had been quite a few years since I'd last been to see a Shakespeare play.
The performance was due to begin at 7pm, so Dad and I decided to use the park and ride and catch the tram into Manchester. We got on the tram at around 6pm and travelled into the city centre, getting off at Market Street. From there, it was only about a two-minute walk to the Royal Exchange Theatre, and we arrived at approximately 6:25pm. Once inside, we headed straight to the box office to collect our press-night tickets.
King Lear Programme & Mythic Reinvention Exhibition 📖
Unlike some of the larger theatres, the Royal Exchange doesn't usually have a merchandise stand selling souvenirs for its productions. However, there was an official King Lear programme available for £6. I always like to buy a programme when I visit the theatre, so after collecting our tickets, I went and purchased one.
As we still had some time before the auditorium opened, Dad and I decided to have a look around the theatre's Mythic Reinvention exhibition. The exhibition is free to visit and features a collection of costumes from previous Royal Exchange Theatre productions. I found it really interesting seeing the costumes up close, particularly all the little details that you don't always notice when you're watching a performance.
There were quite a few pieces on display, and unfortunately we didn't have enough time to see everything properly before the show. I'll definitely have to come back another day to have a look around the parts I missed. It was a lovely way to spend some time before the performance, and I think it's well worth having a look if you're visiting the Royal Exchange while the exhibition is running.
Our Seats & View At The Royal Exchange Theatre 🎟️
At around 6:50pm, Dad and I headed into the auditorium through Door 4. For this performance, we were seated in Row B, Seats 34 and 35. Being in Row B meant we were sitting very close to the stage, which was lovely because we could really appreciate the actors' expressions and all the little details of the performance. Overall, I thought our view was good.
However, one thing worth remembering about the Royal Exchange Theatre is that it's an in-the-round auditorium, meaning the audience sits around the stage rather than just in front of it. Because of this, there are occasions when an actor can be standing between you and the main action, temporarily blocking your view. We did experience this at times during King Lear, although it didn't spoil the performance for me.
Personally, my favourite place to sit at the Royal Exchange is Row A of the First Gallery. I really like being slightly higher up because you get an excellent view of the whole stage, and you don't have actors standing directly in front of you. However, sitting close to the front definitely has its advantages too. You feel much more immersed in the story, especially during the more dramatic scenes, and it's lovely being able to see the performers so clearly.
I think it really comes down to whether you prefer feeling close to the action or having a better overall view of everything happening across the stage.
The performance began at 7pm.
The Story & My Thoughts 👑
King Lear tells the story of an ageing king who decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Before deciding how much each daughter should receive, Lear asks them to declare how much they love him. His two eldest daughters are happy to flatter him, but Cordelia refuses to exaggerate her feelings simply to please her father. Lear doesn't react particularly well to her honesty, and his decision sets off a chain of events that gradually tears his family apart.
Alongside Lear's story is another family conflict involving the Earl of Gloucester and his two sons, Edgar and Edmund. As the different characters become caught up in betrayal, jealousy and struggles for power, things grow increasingly tragic. I don't want to go into too much more detail because there are some important developments that I wouldn't want to spoil for anyone unfamiliar with the play.
As I'd never seen King Lear before, I was going into the production without really knowing what to expect. The opening was certainly quite different from what I had imagined. Rather than beginning in a traditional historical setting, the production opens with a modern party atmosphere, complete with karaoke. It was quite an unusual contrast hearing Shakespeare's original language spoken by characters in contemporary clothing and surroundings.
I have to admit that I found this a little difficult to adjust to at first. It had been years since I'd watched Shakespeare performed, and I wasn't familiar with the story, so I was having to concentrate quite hard to follow the language and understand the different relationships. I also found the first act rather lengthy. There was a lot of information to take in, and although I could appreciate the performances and staging, I wasn't completely drawn into the story straight away.
The first act lasted approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes, followed by a 20-minute interval. During the interval, I decided to have a little walk to stretch my legs. I also took the opportunity to have another look at some of the costumes in the Mythic Reinvention exhibition before heading back into the auditorium.
Once I was back in my seat, Dad and I spent some time discussing the first act. It turned out that we both felt quite similarly about the production so far. We agreed that the first act had been rather slow and that it had taken us a little while to get into the story.
Thankfully, I found the second act much more gripping. By this point, I was becoming more familiar with the characters and their relationships, and the consequences of their earlier decisions were beginning to unfold. The story became increasingly dramatic, with some genuinely shocking moments. There was one scene involving Gloucester that I found particularly disturbing. I won't spoil exactly what happens, but it certainly isn't something I'll forget in a hurry!
I also found some of the later scenes surprisingly emotional. Although I'd struggled a little with the first act, by the end of the play I was completely absorbed in what was happening. The second act lasted approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes, with the performance finishing at around 10:12pm. That gave the play a total running time of approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes, including the interval. It was certainly a long performance, but I thought the second act was much stronger than the first.
Set, Lighting, Sound & Performances 🎭
One of the things that impressed me most about King Lear was how visually striking the production was. The stage floor was dark, with large gold cracks running across it. I thought this was a really effective design, particularly as the cracks seemed to reflect the divisions developing between the characters and the breakdown of Lear's family.
Suspended above the stage were long metal chain curtains, which could be raised and lowered throughout the performance. These were used to create different spaces and dramatically change the appearance of the stage without needing lots of traditional scenery. I loved how effectively they worked within the Royal Exchange's in-the-round setting.
The lighting, designed by Lucy Carter, was equally impressive. Different colours and intensities helped create the atmosphere, particularly as the story became darker and more dramatic. However, my favourite visual moment was definitely the storm sequence. With real rain falling onto the stage, accompanied by thunder and dramatic lighting, it looked absolutely spectacular. Sitting so close to the stage made the scene feel even more intense, and I thought it was one of the most memorable moments of the entire production.
The costumes were contemporary rather than traditional Shakespearean clothing, which worked well with the modern setting. I also liked how Lear's appearance changed throughout the play. He began looking smart and authoritative, but as his situation deteriorated, his clothing and overall appearance became increasingly dishevelled. It was a simple but effective way of showing how much his circumstances had changed. The original music by Nadine Shah and sound design by Holly Khan also played an important part in creating the atmosphere.
As for the performances, I thought the entire cast were excellent. David Threlfall was outstanding as King Lear. At the beginning, Lear is proud, demanding and not particularly likeable, but as the story progresses, Threlfall gradually reveals a much more vulnerable side to the character. There were moments when I found myself genuinely feeling sorry for him, despite some of the terrible decisions he'd made earlier in the play. Threlfall's performance was incredibly powerful, particularly during the more emotional scenes towards the end.
Jonathan Slinger was another standout for me as the Earl of Gloucester. His storyline contains some of the play's most disturbing moments, and I thought he portrayed Gloucester's suffering brilliantly. Tom Varey and Paddy Stafford were also excellent as Gloucester's sons, Edgar and Edmund, whose very different personalities and decisions play such an important part in the story.
Nadine Shah, Lisa Diveney and Isobel Akuwudike gave strong performances as Lear's three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. I particularly liked how different the sisters were, both in their personalities and in the way they responded to their father. Jason Done also gave a memorable performance as Kent, one of the characters who remains loyal to Lear despite everything that happens. There really were some fantastic performances throughout the production.
If you'd like to read more about the production itself, you can also read my more theatre-focused four-star review over on All About Theatre.
King Lear Press Night Celebrations 🥂
As this was the official press night, Dad and I had been invited to stay for the opening night celebrations after the performance. Once the play had finished, we headed out to join the other guests. There was a selection of food available, along with glasses of prosecco, so Dad and I joined the queue to see what was on offer.
There were several different types of mini quiches, vegetarian and vegan wraps, gluten-free sandwiches, honey mustard glazed cocktail sausages and a selection of fresh fruit. As I'm quite a fussy eater, there wasn't a huge amount that appealed to me, so I decided to have some cocktail sausages and grapes. Dad, on the other hand, tried a little bit of everything!
There were also glasses of prosecco available, so Dad had one of those. I don't drink alcohol, so I went and bought myself a Diet Coke instead. Once we'd sorted our food and drinks, we managed to find a table where we could sit down and chat about the play.
Dad agreed with me that the first act had been a little slow, but we'd both enjoyed the second act much more. We also agreed that the performances were excellent and that the staging, particularly the storm sequence, had been incredibly impressive. It was nice to have the opportunity to sit and discuss everything afterwards rather than having to rush straight out of the theatre. Although it was getting quite late by this point, I'm glad we stayed for the celebrations.
The Journey Home 🚋
After we'd finished eating, Dad and I decided it was time to head home. We left the Royal Exchange and walked over to Piccadilly Gardens to catch the tram. Our tram arrived at approximately 10:55pm, so thankfully we didn't have too long to wait.
Once we reached the park and ride, we got back into the car and Dad drove me home. I arrived back at around 11:20pm. It had been quite a long evening, especially with the three-hour performance and the celebrations afterwards, but I'd really enjoyed spending the evening with Dad.
Final Thoughts On King Lear At The Royal Exchange Theatre ✨
Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to see King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre, although I did find it took me a little while to settle into the production. As someone who wasn't familiar with the story and hadn't seen Shakespeare performed for years, I initially struggled with the combination of Shakespearean language and the contemporary setting. I also thought the first act was a little slow.
However, the second act was a completely different experience for me. Once I was more familiar with the characters, I became much more involved in the story, and some of the later scenes were both genuinely shocking and surprisingly moving. David Threlfall was outstanding as Lear, while Jonathan Slinger was another particular highlight as Gloucester.
I was also incredibly impressed by the staging. The gold cracks across the floor, hanging chain curtains and dramatic lighting created some beautiful theatrical moments, while the storm scene with real rain was absolutely spectacular. Dad agreed with me about the production too. We'd both found the first act quite slow, but thought the second act was much more gripping. We also agreed that the cast were excellent and that the staging was one of the biggest highlights of the evening.
I also really enjoyed the rest of our evening at the Royal Exchange. Having the opportunity to look around the Mythic Reinvention exhibition before the show was a lovely bonus, and it was nice to stay for the press night celebrations afterwards. Most importantly, it was lovely to spend the evening with Dad.
Although King Lear isn't the easiest play to follow if you're unfamiliar with Shakespeare, I'm really pleased I had the opportunity to see this production.
A powerful and visually spectacular evening at the theatre, with outstanding performances and some genuinely unforgettable moments.
More Information About King Lear At The Royal Exchange Theatre 📍
King Lear is playing at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester until Sunday 15th November 2026. Tickets are available through the Royal Exchange Theatre website, where you can check current performance times, prices and availability.
The performance we attended lasted approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
The Royal Exchange Theatre is located in St Ann's Square in Manchester city centre and is easily accessible by public transport. We travelled by tram and got off at Market Street, which was only around a two-minute walk from the theatre.
One thing worth remembering when booking tickets is that the theatre has an in-the-round auditorium. Personally, I love sitting in Row A of the First Gallery because you get an excellent overall view of the stage, but sitting in the lower rows allows you to feel much closer to the action.
There was also an official King Lear programme available for £6 during our visit.
If you're visiting the theatre, I'd recommend allowing some extra time to explore the free Mythic Reinvention costume exhibition, if it's still running when you attend.
For more detailed thoughts about the performances and production, you can read my King Lear review on All About Theatre.
🎥 Watch Our King Lear Theatre Trip In The Weekly Vlog
Our trip to see King Lear at the Royal Exchange Theatre will also feature in my weekly vlog. You'll be able to see more from our evening, including our visit to the theatre, the Mythic Reinvention exhibition, our seats and view of the stage, and the press night celebrations.
I'll add the vlog here once it's available.
King Lear At The Royal Exchange Theatre – At A Glance 🎭
📍 Venue: Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann's Square, Manchester, M2 7DH
📅 Manchester Run: 2nd October – 15th November 2026
🎭 Genre: Shakespearean Tragedy / Drama
👑 Starring: David Threlfall as King Lear
🎬 Adapted & Directed By: Matthew Dunster
⏱️ Our Performance Runtime: Approximately 3 hours 12 minutes including interval
☕ Interval: Approximately 20 minutes
💺 Our Seats: Row B, Seats 34 & 35, entering through Door 4
👀 Seat View: Good view close to the stage, although actors occasionally blocked parts of the action because of the in-the-round staging
💡 My Favourite Seating Area: Row A of the First Gallery, which offers an excellent overall view of the stage
📖 Programme Available: Yes – £6
🛍️ Merchandise Available: No production merchandise was available during our visit, apart from the programme
🚋 Getting There: Market Street Metrolink stop, approximately a two-minute walk from the theatre at our pace
🚗 Park & Ride: We used the tram park and ride to travel into Manchester
🎟️ Booking: Tickets and performance information are available through the Royal Exchange Theatre website
Our tickets for this performance were kindly provided for review purposes. We were also invited to attend the press night celebrations. All opinions are my own.
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