Night Waves - Derek Jacobi

Derek Jacobi plays King Lear. Philip Dodd assesses one of our finest stage actors playing Shakespeare's great and failing King. Derek Jacobi has been fixed point in the British theatrical firmament since playing Laertes in the National Theatre's 1963 production of Hamlet. Peter O'Toole was the Danish Prince. Soon after Jacobi played Hamlet for himself with the BBC and, in a much garlanded career, has also portrayed Richard II and Richard III. Finally, he is playing King Lear. Jacobi and director Michael Grandage received huge acclaim for their 2008 production of Twelfth Night at the Donmar Warehouse in London and this new venture is hugely anticipated. Completing Lear's dysfunctional ruling family are Gina McKee playing Goneril and Justine Mitchell as Regan. Producer: Lisa Davis.