In the Shadow of King Lear

This documentary shows two directors and a cast of actors working to breathe new life into Shakespeare. Veteran Ian Mune prepares to tackle one of the most difficult leading roles in classical theatre: King Lear. "If you're gonna climb hills, why not Everest?" he says. The unorthodox, bring it alive approach of Theatre At Large directors Anna Marbrook and Christian Penny (future director of Toi Whakaari) seems to err on the side of playfulness. But viewers are shown there is a method to their madness, when scenes from Shakespeare's drama are presented in beautifully-lit tableaus.

It's actually like running a marathon every day, doing a big one [a play] like this. If you're not in condition after a week, firstly you lose your voice. You lose your breath first probably before that. Then you start losing your lines. And then I guess you start falling over.

– Ian Mune

Key Cast & Crew

Ian Mune

Subject

Anna Marbrook

Subject

Waka Attewell

Cinematographer, Director

Raymond Hawthorne

Subject

Martyn Sanderson

Subject

Matthew Suttor

Composer