I almost didn’t notice the second language cause Shakespearean is a second language. Expressive acting carried the plot and the costumes and lighting were full of mood. I knew what was happening not because I’ve read the play, but because there was so much symbolism and meaning behind the costumes and props. “When Russia invaded Ukraine, thousands of people found refuge in the small town of Uzhorod in western Ukraine. Local director Vyacheslav Yehorov saw the parallels between the refugees’ experience and the themes of King Lear, and involved them in the creation of his play.” stated the Royal Shakespeare Company’s website. I think theatre is beautifully powerful when productions can be adapted and share themes with modern events globally. I can see very plainly that there was a lot of pain in the story of King Lear which is reflected in what is happening in Ukraine. The themes of the play such as betrayal, family, insanity, recompense, blood, loyalty, and death. Scratched and worn tin suitcases were used in the production to bring in the costumes. Tin suitcases that looked like they had been used in war and carry a history with them.
This production had a lot of aspects that reflect a more folklore style. It was the most minimalist production I have ever seen between the set and lack of props. Simple set design with thrown-together pillars and white banners reflected color lighting. The four pillars are representative of the four characters and four rulers (past and present). Their stripping of white sheets is a moment of truth, bareness, weakness, vulnerability, and trust while their clashing of pillars is conflict and clashing of powers. The lighting is indicative of the rising of the sun and the fall of night. It is also a way to change the setting of the different kingdoms with the pink, blue, lilac, and red color changes.
Nature is a very big part of this production and the folksy theme. Haze and fog set in when the characters are immersed in moments of confusion. I made a list of all the sounds in the background: trumpets playing, birds chirping, dog barking, wind whooshing. Drip, fire cracking and popping, breeze, bugs, owls, silence, flapping of wings, pan flute, flies, drums, swords clashing, wolves howling, and metal creaking. Weather affects mood and revelation and is prominent in expressing emotion with strobing storms and peaceful settings. Lullabies that weren’t in the script are added and sung in the native language, which adds a sense of culture that could not have been reproduced in this definitive production of King Lear.
The actors were introduced in white linens and when they accept their costumes they accept their roles. The characters go through a lot of trauma and hardship that is afflicted onto them by their status. Cordelia is dressed in real linens, as is the jester because they have no status. Burlap is equivalent to unfit royalty and status. The king is stripped of his burlap when he loses his land and position when he divides his kingdom between two of his daughters. The daughters eventually betray the king and each other, which was conveyed with the crown. The crown imagery is prominent with the combining of the two into a larger crown. Between the stick and twine jester’s cap, crowns, and burlap overcoats, the play felt like they were children playing pretend. The burlap being so worn and ugly, signals a message that power isn’t necessarily beautiful. Stripped of status is stripping the burlap and therefore the character is stripped of an ugliness. Those who seek power are unworthy of it.
Theatre in London U of A 