The History of King Lear, Nahum Tate adaptation
by Hidden Room Theatre
Nov. 06 - Nov. 29, 2015
Fridays-Sundays
In 1681, Nahum Tate took an "unpolished jewel," Shakespeare's King Lear, and modified it for Restoration tastes. The romantic result replaced its original for 157 years.
Now rarely-seen, Tate’s oddity dominated the English stage, eclipsing Shakespeare’s version until the 1800’s. With music, romance, added scenes, cut characters, sweeping fights, and a gloriously surprising ending, Tate’s Lear is a wild romp that still maintains the heart and theme of Shakespeare’s original.
World-renowned scholar, author, and Oxford Don of Early Modern Drama, Professor Tiffany Stern returns to her work with Austin’s Hidden Room Theatre as the Head of Research for Tate’s Lear, guiding the project’s exploration and understanding of theatre practices in 1681. Attention will be focused on the early Restoration's integration of women, textual alterations to early modern plays plays, and the introduction of a grander style of presentation. Professor Stern was recently granted support from Oxford to assist in her work on the project, and plans her return to Austin shortly.
Adding even more ace-factor to the team is Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper (Head of Research and Higher Education at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London and Hidden Room board member) who lends her authoritative knowledge on gesture to the project. In advance of Dr. Karim-Cooper’s book The Hand on the Shakespearean Stage: Gesture, Touch, and the Spectacle of Dismemberment the Hidden Room will be experimenting with the meaning and application of actor gesture, as well as other lesser understood practices of the early Restoration stage.
Some of Austin’s most celebrated actors, designers, and musicians are coming together to work on Tate's Lear. The cast includes Judd Farris, Liz Beckham, Julia Lorenz-Olson, Nathan Jerkins, Brock England, Jennifer Coy, Robert Matney, Rommel Sulit, Jill Swanson, Toby Minor, Jeff Mills, and stars Ryan Crowder as Lear. The American Shakespeare Center’s Jenny McNee takes on the role of Head Costume Designer with partnership from Hidden Room’s own Jennifer Rose Davis. Musician Howard Burkett leads the charge on music research and design. Beth Burns directs.
[poster design by JennyMarie Jemison]
[image for secondary poster from www.libripass.com]
The History of King Lear, Nahum Tate adaptation
by William Shakespeare, Nahum Tate
Hidden Room Theatre
Fridays-Sundays,
November 06 - November 29, 2015
November 06 - November 29, 2015
Tate’s Lear unveils scenes for some of the world’s most prestigious early modern theatre scholars at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Conference November 1st before beginning its Austin run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in November 2015 at the York Rite Masonic Hall. Tickets will become available shortly on www.hiddenroomtheatrecom.
every weekend in November
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 5 pm
Industry Night Thursday Nov 12th, 8pm
www.hiddenroomtheatre.com
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 5 pm
Industry Night Thursday Nov 12th, 8pm
www.hiddenroomtheatre.com
