After a successful run in Camden Fringe’s SHAKESfest, housed at the Old Red Lion Pub and Playhouse, Loser Club Productions is bringing I Hate King Lear to Lambeth audiences for one night only.
A modern-day retelling of one of Shakespeare’s most tragic stories and directed by Alexane Roger, writer and performer Emily Bowden flies through King Lear’s betrayed characters. Speaking openly to the audience, Bowden explores what we owe to those we have suffered with, and what we inherently owe our family.
Summary
Heather and Phoebe, sisters born 501 days apart, were inseparable. Even when kids at school liked Phoebe better, even as the birth of their younger sister changed the family entirely, and even as Phoebe watched her sister and father’s relationship become strained. As she has grown, Phoebe has been pulled between her bond to her sister and the rest of her life. When assigned King Lear for school, Phoebe cannot help but see the connections between the Lears’ story and her own life. But in that story, the two sisters die at the end.
Switching between classical scenes from the source material and a modern day family drama, I Hate King Lear forces audiences to confront their own relationships with those they have always known. Emily Bowden, as Phoebe, spends the performance flipping between modern day teenager, scorned king, and his vengeful daughters, while Alexane Roger as Heather is frozen in time on stage. The two actors are physically tethered to one another throughout the show, forcing their movement to become equally strained as the family dinner table.
Written for fans of Noah Kahan’s new album, Cain and Abel adaptations, The Mountain Goats, Shakespeare reimagined, or new writing, I Hate King Lear marks a London debut for both Bowden and Roger. Originally devised at Guildford School of Acting, which both performers are recent alumni of.
Listing
Wednesday, October 14th 20:00
Central Film School
SW9 9PH
Nearest Station: Clapham North
Tickets available here
For press tickets, please contact Emily Bowden at emilybowdentheater@gmail.com
Recommended 13+, references to familial trauma
Reviews and Press
Bowden and Roger spoke with Everything Theatre prior to their Camden Fringe run on the making of the show. Interview can be found here.
On the venue
Since 2008, Central Film School has welcomed students from all over the world, providing them with the skills and knowledge needed to become professionals in the screen industries.
From BA (Hons) and MA degrees to Summer Camp, their courses amplify independent voices and support students in bringing their stories to life on screen. Each programme prioritises practical, hands-on learning, providing real-world experience with industry-standard equipment and fostering collaboration in a creative environment led by experienced professionals.
More can be found here