Seana McKenna & Jim Mezon. (MICHAEL COOPER PHOTO)

Overview

Widely considered Shakespeare’s masterpiece, Lear tells the story of an aging monarch’s loosening grip on the reigns of power and the slow, lonely descent into madness that follows. The Dora award winning Groundling Theatre Company follows their celebrated productions of The Winter’s Tale and Measure for Measure with an intimate and provocative Lear at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre.

Starring one of Canada’s most celebrated actresses, Seana McKenna, in the title role, this production promises to bring new life to Shakespeare’s classic tale, challenging our assumptions about familial loyalty and the fragile balance of sanity and chaos that exists within us all.

Written By

William Shakespeare

Producing Company
Our Role

Executive Producer, Producer & General Management

“

"Groundling’s fresh, relevant Lear speaks to our rapidly changing world...chalk it up as another Groundling success.”

The Globe and MailMartin Morrow
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“Seana McKenna’s all-out, heart-wrenching performance as Queen Lear is more than enough to recommend Graham Abbey’s production...”

Toronto StarKaren Fricker
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“Powerhouse Performances Deliver a Riveting LEAR...one of the most powerful theatrical experiences I've had in months...a show you will not want to miss.”

BroadwayWorld.com
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“Get to see this LEAR before it closes.”

Onstageblog.com
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“McKenna’s incomparable portrayal of Lear… has the power to break your heart.”

Mooney on Theatre
Alex McCooeye, Karl Ang, Seana McKenna, Antoine Yared, Mercedes Morris, Kevin Hanchard in A Groundling Theatre production Shakespeare’s Lear CAST Seana McKenna – Lear   Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester    Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent  Deborah Hay – Goneril  Diana Donnelly – Regan    Mercedes Morris – Cordelia  Antoine Yared – Edgar  Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall  Alex McCooeye – Edmund    Karl Ang – Duke of Albany Augusto Bitter – Oswald  Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate George Meanwell – Composer/Musician  Graham Hargrove – Musician  Director
Graham Abbey Music by
George Meanwell Associate Director
Brad Hodder Assistant Director
Edmund Stapleton Set and Costume Design
Peter Hartwell Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Fight Director
John Stead Stage Manager
Brian Scott Production Manager
Ray Salverda Poster Design
Scott McKowen Executive Producer
Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment Executive Director
Anna Kajtar Company Manager & Associate Producer
Rosie Driscoll
Kevin Hanchard, Colin Mochrie in A Groundling Theatre production Shakespeare’s Lear CAST Seana McKenna – Lear   Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester    Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent  Deborah Hay – Goneril  Diana Donnelly – Regan    Mercedes Morris – Cordelia  Antoine Yared – Edgar  Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall  Alex McCooeye – Edmund    Karl Ang – Duke of Albany Augusto Bitter – Oswald  Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate George Meanwell – Composer/Musician  Graham Hargrove – Musician  Director
Graham Abbey Music by
George Meanwell Associate Director
Brad Hodder Assistant Director
Edmund Stapleton Set and Costume Design
Peter Hartwell Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Fight Director
John Stead Stage Manager
Brian Scott Production Manager
Ray Salverda Poster Design
Scott McKowen Executive Producer
Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment Executive Director
Anna Kajtar Company Manager & Associate Producer
Rosie Driscoll
Colin Mochrie (background) - Diana Donnelly, Seana McKenna in A Groundling Theatre production Shakespeare’s Lear CAST Seana McKenna – Lear   Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester    Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent  Deborah Hay – Goneril  Diana Donnelly – Regan    Mercedes Morris – Cordelia  Antoine Yared – Edgar  Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall  Alex McCooeye – Edmund    Karl Ang – Duke of Albany Augusto Bitter – Oswald  Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate George Meanwell – Composer/Musician  Graham Hargrove – Musician  Director
Graham Abbey Music by
George Meanwell Associate Director
Brad Hodder Assistant Director
Edmund Stapleton Set and Costume Design
Peter Hartwell Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Fight Director
John Stead Stage Manager
Brian Scott Production Manager
Ray Salverda Poster Design
Scott McKowen Executive Producer
Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment Executive Director
Anna Kajtar Company Manager & Associate Producer
Rosie Driscoll
Jim Mezon, Antoine Yared in A Groundling Theatre production Shakespeare’s Lear CAST Seana McKenna – Lear   Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester    Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent  Deborah Hay – Goneril  Diana Donnelly – Regan    Mercedes Morris – Cordelia  Antoine Yared – Edgar  Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall  Alex McCooeye – Edmund    Karl Ang – Duke of Albany Augusto Bitter – Oswald  Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate George Meanwell – Composer/Musician  Graham Hargrove – Musician  Director
Graham Abbey Music by
George Meanwell Associate Director
Brad Hodder Assistant Director
Edmund Stapleton Set and Costume Design
Peter Hartwell Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Fight Director
John Stead Stage Manager
Brian Scott Production Manager
Ray Salverda Poster Design
Scott McKowen Executive Producer
Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment Executive Director
Anna Kajtar Company Manager & Associate Producer
Rosie Driscoll
Deborah Hay, Alex Poch-Goldin in A Groundling Theatre production Shakespeare’s Lear CAST Seana McKenna – Lear   Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester    Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent  Deborah Hay – Goneril  Diana Donnelly – Regan    Mercedes Morris – Cordelia  Antoine Yared – Edgar  Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall  Alex McCooeye – Edmund    Karl Ang – Duke of Albany Augusto Bitter – Oswald  Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate George Meanwell – Composer/Musician  Graham Hargrove – Musician  Director
Graham Abbey Music by
George Meanwell Associate Director
Brad Hodder Assistant Director
Edmund Stapleton Set and Costume Design
Peter Hartwell Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Fight Director
John Stead Stage Manager
Brian Scott Production Manager
Ray Salverda Poster Design
Scott McKowen Executive Producer
Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment Executive Director
Anna Kajtar Company Manager & Associate Producer
Rosie Driscoll
Seana McKenna, Jim Mezon in A Groundling Theatre production Shakespeare’s Lear CAST Seana McKenna – Lear   Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester    Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent  Deborah Hay – Goneril  Diana Donnelly – Regan    Mercedes Morris – Cordelia  Antoine Yared – Edgar  Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall  Alex McCooeye – Edmund    Karl Ang – Duke of Albany Augusto Bitter – Oswald  Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate George Meanwell – Composer/Musician  Graham Hargrove – Musician  Director
Graham Abbey Music by
George Meanwell Associate Director
Brad Hodder Assistant Director
Edmund Stapleton Set and Costume Design
Peter Hartwell Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Fight Director
John Stead Stage Manager
Brian Scott Production Manager
Ray Salverda Poster Design
Scott McKowen Executive Producer
Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment Executive Director
Anna Kajtar Company Manager & Associate Producer
Rosie Driscoll
Alex McCooeye, Alex Poch-Goldin in A Groundling Theatre production Shakespeare’s Lear CAST Seana McKenna – Lear   Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester    Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent  Deborah Hay – Goneril  Diana Donnelly – Regan    Mercedes Morris – Cordelia  Antoine Yared – Edgar  Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall  Alex McCooeye – Edmund    Karl Ang – Duke of Albany Augusto Bitter – Oswald  Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate George Meanwell – Composer/Musician  Graham Hargrove – Musician  Director
Graham Abbey Music by
George Meanwell Associate Director
Brad Hodder Assistant Director
Edmund Stapleton Set and Costume Design
Peter Hartwell Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Fight Director
John Stead Stage Manager
Brian Scott Production Manager
Ray Salverda Poster Design
Scott McKowen Executive Producer
Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment Executive Director
Anna Kajtar Company Manager & Associate Producer
Rosie Driscoll
Antoine Yared in A Groundling Theatre production Shakespeare’s Lear CAST Seana McKenna – Lear   Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester    Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent  Deborah Hay – Goneril  Diana Donnelly – Regan    Mercedes Morris – Cordelia  Antoine Yared – Edgar  Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall  Alex McCooeye – Edmund    Karl Ang – Duke of Albany Augusto Bitter – Oswald  Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate George Meanwell – Composer/Musician  Graham Hargrove – Musician  Director
Graham Abbey Music by
George Meanwell Associate Director
Brad Hodder Assistant Director
Edmund Stapleton Set and Costume Design
Peter Hartwell Lighting Design
Kimberly Purtell Fight Director
John Stead Stage Manager
Brian Scott Production Manager
Ray Salverda Poster Design
Scott McKowen Executive Producer
Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment Executive Director
Anna Kajtar Company Manager & Associate Producer
Rosie Driscoll

Production History

Lear was presented at Harbourfront Centre Theatre (231 Queens Quay West, Toronto) from January 9 – 28, 2018 with the following cast:
Seana McKenna – Lear  
Colin Mochrie – Lear’s Fool
Jim Mezon – Earl of Gloucester   
Kevin Hanchard – Earl of Kent 
Deborah Hay – Goneril 
Diana Donnelly – Regan   
Mercedes Morris – Cordelia 
Antoine Yared – Edgar 
Alex Poch-Goldin – Duke of Cornwall 
Alex McCooeye – Edmund   
Karl Ang – Duke of Albany
Augusto Bitter – Oswald 
Ron Kennell – Lear’s Fool, Alternate
George Meanwell – Composer/Musician 
Graham Hargrove – Musician

Director – Graham Abbey

Music by – George Meanwell

Associate Director – Brad Hodder

Assistant Director – Edmund Stapleton

Set and Costume Design – Peter Hartwell

Lighting Design – Kimberly Purtell

Fight Director – John Stead

Stage Manager – Brian Scott

Production Manager – Ray Salverda

Poster Design – Scott McKowen

Executive Producer – Robert Richardson, Marquis Entertainment

Executive Director – Anna Kajtar

Company Manager & Associate Producer – Rosie Driscoll