Full Cast Announced for King Lear

Preview by Steve Cooke

Following  the revelation that David Threlfall is returning to the Royal Exchange Theatre after 27 years to play King Lear, we now have details of the cast who will bring Matthew Dunster’s reimagining of Shakespeare's masterwork KING LEAR to life.

Threlfall’s extensive credits famously include Shameless (Channel 4) for which he won an RTS Television Award for Best Actor.

DAVID THRELFALL

He is joined by Mercury Prize-nominated songwriter and performing musician Nadine Shah (as Goneril; Lisa Diveney as Regan; Isobel Akuwudike Cordelia; Jonathan Slinger who returns to the Royal Exchange Theatre to play Gloucester; Nicholas Karimi as Albany & Brawn; Tom Varey as Edgar; Paddy Stafford as Edmund and Jason Done as Kent.

NADINE SHAH

Joining them is Grace Jabbari as Doctor & Edmund's Lover; Jessica Mannion as Guen; Harry Clarke as Ned ; and Rupert Hill () who makes a welcome return to the Exchange to play Torin.

The cast is completed by Ed Coleman as Cornwall & French Officer; Gabin Kongolo as France & Curan; Anwar Russell who makes a welcome return to the Royal Exchange following and joins as Burgundy & Oswald; and Ryan Pope also returns to the Royal Exchange for the third time to step into the role of Elias.

Lear is a searing portrait of a king unable to distinguish truth from lies. As the storm rises and night falls, language, identity and meaning break down completely.

Known as Shakespeare’s most elemental tragedy charting a kingdom where power corrupts, families become enemies and prosperity devolves into war.

This production of King Lear is adapted and directed by Matthew Dunster.

It is the fifth production in the theatre’s 50th anniversary season ‘A Homecoming’ and itwill run from 2 October to 15 November 2026.

Tickets from £12, to book visit: https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/king-lear/

Access Performances 

Captioned (C) Performance: 1 November, 3pm

Audio Described (AD) Performance: 11 November, 2pm

Sensory Adapted (SA) Performance: 12 November, 6pm 

BSL-Interpreted (BSL) Performances: TBC

Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH