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National Theatre Live: King Lear poster
7.1 / 10(8 votes)IMDb20143h 25mUnited Kingdom

National Theatre Live: King Lear

Synopsis

An aged king decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, according to which of them is most eloquent in praising him. His favourite, Cordelia, says nothing. Simon Russell Beale, whose recent appearances at the National include Timon of Athens and Collaborators, takes the title role in Shakespeare’s tragedy.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

National Theatre: King Lear (official trailer)Official

Type: Trailer • Published 2014-04-23

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Robin Lough, Sam Mendes
Screenplay & Story
William Shakespeare
Original Score
Paddy Cunneen
Original Title
National Theatre Live: King Lear
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
3h 25m
Production Studios
National Theatre

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Robin Lough, Sam Mendes

Screenplay & Story

William Shakespeare

Original Score & Music

Paddy Cunneen

Department Leadership Roster

Robin Lough

Robin Lough

Director

Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes

Director

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

International Certification Matrix

United Kingdom (BBFC)12A

12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: King Lear.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: King Lear.

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All productions released by National Theatre Live, UK – either done directly by the Royal National Theatre or other UK venues/producers. [**NationalTheatre.org.uk**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) / [**NTLive.com**](https://www.ntlive.com) / [**NTatHome.com**](https://www.ntathome.com) (for its US equivalent, see [**BroadwayHD**](https://www.tmdb.org/company/103196-broadwayhd) and site [**BroadwayHD.com**](https://www.broadwayhd.com).) Some productions were filmed _solely_ for their paid streaming channel "National Theatre at Home", and were branded without the "National Theatre Live" posters which those that also screened in cinemas typically got posters with. (plus: There was a 2009 BBC TV series entry titled "National Theatre Live" with the first five filmed productions that featured additional commentary, at #280519, but this was deleted by a mod!) ______________________________________________________________________ • **2024.05.09.Thu: Plays 1-100** - [**nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25) _"National Theatre Live broadcast its 100th title, Nye, live from the Olivier stage. Now buckle up as we’re going to take you on a journey through all 100 NT Lives (you heard that right). From our first to our most recent, join us to recount all the incredible plays that have made it from the stage to the screen – with some fun facts thrown in for good measure!"_ ______________________________________________________________________ **What is National Theatre Live (NTL) & National Theatre at Home (NTaH)?** ([**Wikipedia**](https://w.wiki/9grq)) National Theatre Live is an initiative from the National Theatre (formerly "Royal National Theatre") in London, who record their own plays (and also may do/did some live broadcasts to cinemas too) and other non-National Theatre productions from selected indie/West-End theatre plays in London and beyond in the UK (eg. Chichester, et al.). Unless it's a live cinema viewing, typically once the live theatre run has ended these are then shown in cinemas. NTL cinema audiences are able to view play recordings at cinema screenings in the UK and globally (eg. Australia, Taiwan, et al.), with cinema releases either concurrently (or after an initial cinema release) also released on their paid streaming service National Theatre at Home. NTaH launched in 2020 offering access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. All titles include captions, over 90% available with Audio Description, and a selection available in British Sign Language (BSL). Reaching theatre audiences globally, streaming to over 184 countries, a majority of audiences having never visited the National Theatre's South Bank home, and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 2026 research showed 99% of NTaH's audiences are outside London, with over 60% saying filmed theatre options support wider discoverability and increased overall theatre experiences.

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Frequently Asked Questions About National Theatre Live: King Lear

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is National Theatre Live: King Lear about?

An aged king decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, according to which of them is most eloquent in praising him. His favourite, Cordelia, says nothing. Simon Russell Beale, whose recent appearances at the National include Timon of Athens and Collaborators, takes the title role in Shakespeare’s tragedy.

Who directed National Theatre Live: King Lear?

National Theatre Live: King Lear was directed by Robin Lough, Sam Mendes.

Who stars in National Theatre Live: King Lear?

The principal cast of National Theatre Live: King Lear includes Simon Russell Beale, Kate Fleetwood, Anna Maxwell Martin, Olivia Vinall, Richard Clothier.

When was National Theatre Live: King Lear released and how long is it?

National Theatre Live: King Lear was released in 2014 with a total runtime of 3h 25m.

Who composed the musical score for National Theatre Live: King Lear?

The original motion picture soundtrack for National Theatre Live: King Lear was composed by Paddy Cunneen.

What is the age rating and content advisory for National Theatre Live: King Lear?

National Theatre Live: King Lear holds official age classifications: GB: 12A (12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.).