König Lear

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
TRANSLATED AND NEWLY ADAPTED BY THOMAS MELLE
DIRECTED BY ANNE LENK

«No heaven without a ride through hell.»

King Lear has a clever idea to maintain his power: to pass his wealth and possessions onto his three daughters Regan, Goneril, and Cordelia well in advance of his death; not however, without retaining the title of king with all its privileges. Of course. Instead of gratitude and harmony, he is met by a lack of understanding and insurrection. The young women settle old scores with their father and summon a turning point in history: “Equal rights for all people”. The end of patriarchy and hierarchy? Let Lear’s nightmare begin.

In his adaptation, author Thomas Melle stays close to the Shakespearean original while making it cleverly up-to-date. Director Anne Lenk is in excellent company. Working for the first time in Zurich, she like no other has managed in recent years to put a new spin on old works with casting surprises, subtle shifts of emphasis, and high-precision ensemble performance. KING LEAR addresses the transformations that currently concern us and questions legacy both financially and immaterially. What do we want to pass on? What does our shared tomorrow look like?