Actors From The London Stage Returns With KING LEAR

William Shakespeare's King Lear will be performed by the renowned five-member British touring group, Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS), February 6, 7, and 8, 2019 at Notre Dame's Washington Hall.

Confronting the role of the monarch in the balance between authority and chaos, King Lear reveals the beauty of selfless love, the heartache of betrayal, and the descent of civilization into brutishness when selfish greed has run amuck. Shakespeare's intense drama returns to Notre Dame in a powerful new production from Actors From The London Stage. This dynamic ensemble performs the entire play themselves, with each actor assuming multiple roles.

PERFORMANCE LOCATION, DATES, AND TIMES:

• Washington Hall on the campus of the University of Notre Dame

• Wednesday, February 6; Thursday, February 7; and Friday, February 8 at 7:30pm

• Tickets: Regular $23, Student $13, Under 18 FREE with regular ticket purchase (limit five). Visit shakespeare.nd.edu or call 574-631-2800.

Founded by Homer "Murph" Swander, Sir Patrick Stewart, and members of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1975, AFTLS has been visiting university campuses for week-long residencies ever since.

Hailing from such prestigious UK companies as Shakespeare's Globe, the National Theatre, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, AFTLS actors are uniquely prepared for their week-long dual-focus residency. During their Notre Dame residency, they not only present three performances of King Lear, but also visit dozens of classrooms for text-focused workshops.

In addition to enlivening theatre and English departments, the AFTLS experience is tailored to enrich coursework across the academic spectrum. Their dynamic, hands-on approach heightens students' intellectual curiosity regardless of discipline. Whether coaching accounting students on successful presentation skills, or instructing law students in the art of persuasion, these workshops promote a campus-wide dialogue inspired by the works of William Shakespeare.

Actors From The London Stage is one component of Shakespeare at Notre Dame, a program that also includes the McMeel Family Chair in Shakespeare Studies and the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, the University of Notre Dame's professional theatre in residence. The mission of Shakespeare at Notre Dame is to establish the University nationally and internationally as a center for the study of Shakespeare in performance.

AFTLS actor bios, production photos, a character breakdown, and a full synopsis of the play are available at shakespeare.nd.edu. Actor interviews are available upon request.