“Is this the Promised End?”

Written by Edinburgh Fringe award-winning playwright Frank Bramwell

 

 

A unique opportunity to experience the play King Lear, told through the very mind of the man himself.

This new and exciting play dispenses with the other 29 characters in the original play

and relives its main themes using Shakespeare’s words.

Its challenging and bold take is to ask;

what if Shakespeare had not killed off King Lear?

 

Lear is on the heath, left alone to once more think about

that fateful day and everything that happened since then.

Now he has just one hour, one hour to decide what his future holds . . .

 

This fascinating opportunity takes us along Lear’s ensuing spiritual journey

following the news of Cordelia’s death, allowing us to re-examine the

original play’s themes and insights from a completely different angle.

 

This will be playwright Frank Bramwell’s fifth sequel to Shakespeare’s plays. The previous four

(based on Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, The Tempest, and Hamlet) have all delighted audiences with the boldness of their approach and the dexterity of touch. Romeo & Juliet for All Time won an award at the Edinburgh Fringe

for a play “that stood head and shoulders above other plays reviewed”.

 

 

Bath Fringe 

Reviewer Karolina Latk

A magnificent, strong piece of high art playing nicely with Shakespeare’s King Lear. It is a great example of simultaneously reviewing what’s known and creating something new, where the old characters get more and more added to their personalities. Written by Frank Bramwell, this play surprises us with the depth of the protagonist’s psyche, which is flawlessly shown by Bob Young’s one-of-its-kind acting. These two are the stage’s perfect match, making King Lear (alone) a powerful voice on the subject of humanity and the worth of truth and words. This play becomes an additional moment in Lear’s life just before its end, which naturally makes him and us question the history of the original play.... 

Although the way the play is written makes it easy to understand for any audience (even if you’ve never read or seen King Lear before it is still for you!), theatre and Shakespeare lovers will find even more pleasure in it as Bramwell has for us many surprises and references. Both ways, however, it is a cultural must-see. Hopefully, we’ll get more chances to see the collaboration of Young and Bramwell.

Camden Fringe 

Reviewer Laura Ellis

"I left the theatre feeling like I’d been exposed to a flawed individual at their most honest – and that honesty is something as terrifying, courageous and honourable as ruling a nation..... the outstanding performance of Bob Young and Bramwell’s truthful presentation of humanity was well worth the watch.." 

Reviewer - Annie Power 
"King Lear (Alone) is a gripping production and the formidable performance given by Bob Young makes it compelling viewing." 

Reviewer - Marianna Meloni
"Bob Young in the title role, is a powerful performer. His tormented character takes shape thanks to his profound voice, whilst his presence on stage appears carefully studied..... In Bob Young's poignant (portayal), the play is quite intense. It's ground-breaking angle will definitely appeal to the culture vultures. 

Greater Manchester Fringe

 

Reviewer David Cunningham

"Much of the success of the play depends upon Bob Young’s performance. In accordance with the concept of the play he does not create any other characters than Lear but his facial expressions make clear how other people have reacted to the King’s demands. Unusually Young establishes a strong personality for Lear before the traumatic events that pushed him over the edge. 

Bramwell faithfully sticks to the concept of filtering events through the consciousness of King Lear (Alone). He does not give in to temptation and include major speeches delivered by characters other than the king. Bramwell’s additions to the text are kept to a minimum and are more to allow Lear to review events and consider if things could have gone in a different direction."

Buxton Fringe

" King Lear (Alone) is an ambitious take on one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Starting in the middle and working out, the scenes seem to be in a chaotic order, mirroring the chaos of both the original play....... This Lear is more self-conscious than we might expect; more acutely aware of his loneliness, more conscious of his hubristic outburst at Cordelia, more contently accepting of death....... Bob Young, as Lear, gave a strong and nuanced performance, particularly given that he had to stand in late for the original actor, who is unavailable due to illness. He clearly had a good understanding of both script and character, and even though he was alone on stage, the audience was not distracted by his script in hand... ."

 

Birmingham Fest

 

Behind the Arras review
"The production gives an insight into the inner thoughts and feelings of King Lear, exploring the role from the
perspective of both an audience and an actor and goes into the heart of the character. Together, actor and
audience decipher who King Lear was as we watch the changes in his mind and extreme shifts in persona.

By taking away other characters in the play and leaving us with Lear alone, we see the madness and torture of 
his soul come to light in a unique and pure way."

​

 

 

**** NOW BOOKING FOR 2018 ****

For further Press Information, photos etc please contact Frank Bramwell

07720 839 612 ¦ inamomenttheatre@gmail.com ¦ www.kinglearalone.uk

 

 

PERFORMANCES

 

 

Edinburgh Fringe 2018

Greater Manchester Fringe 2018

 

Bristol Shakespeare Festival 2017

Bath Fringe 2017

Oldham Theatre 2017

 

 

Greater Manchester Fringe 2016

Birmingham 2016

Camden Fringe 2016

 

 

Birmingham 2015

Buxton Fringe 2015

 

 

For all performance details, please visit www.kinglearalone.uk