Appropriations of Shakespeare’s King Lear in modern British drama: Edward Bond’s Lear (1971) and Howard Barker’s Seven Lears (1989)

The following article is an attempt at looking at the modern appropriations of Shakespeare’s King Lear’s story in two British plays: Edward Bond’s Lear (1971) and Howard Barker’s Seven Lears (1989). Both dates signify the first stage premieres of the plays in question: Bond’s play was first opened at the Royal Court Theatre, London and Barker’s play was opened October at Sheffield Crucible. Both plays explicitly relate to King Lear’s story by their titles and both are recognized as the best-known and most powerful dramatic reworkings of the Lear story. Although both playwrights place themselves within two disparate theatrical traditions: Rational Theatre (Bond) and The Theatre of Cruelty (Barker), they are noted for their political allusions. Yet the primary concern of the following article will be to see to what extent is the “myth” of Lear modified in two modern versions. To achieve this effect the author of the article will closely look at the spatial arrangement, time scheme, plot development, story line, character presentation and values, as well as some major themes. Also Lear as the main character will be shown in its various roles and relations: as a loving father, a king, a leader, a madman and a tragic figure