A king announces that he will divide his kingdom between his three daughters according to how much they love him.

Lear thinks he will live out his old age with all of the comforts of kingship, and none of the responsibility. But the eldest two daughters, Goneril & Regan, have other ideas in mind – and he has given away all power to stop them. His vanity has devastating consequences for family, nation and climate.

Our First Encounters with Shakespeare production makes Shakespeare’s play about family, power and betrayal relevant for a new generation of theatregoers.

This 80-minute version of King Lear uses an edited version of the original play to create the perfect introduction for young people aged 7-13 and their families.

The tour of First Encounters: King Lear is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, which makes it possible for the RSC to expand its tour to work in partnership with more places across England.