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Screen shot of a scene from The Shadow King
The Shadow King single work   drama  
Adaptation of King Lear William Shakespeare , 1605 single work drama
Issue Details: First known date: 2013... 2013 The Shadow King
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Bringing together the country's finest creative talents including Tom E. Lewis (The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith) and Jimi Bani (Mabo) this majestic and physical reworking of Shakespeare's King Lear employs the timeless tragedy to speak to the history and current circumstances of Indigenous Australia. Working across cultures and generations, The Shadow King is unmissable theatre of a scale and significance to match the land upon which it is made.'

Source: www.malthousetheatre.com.au (Sighted 12/09/2012).

Exhibitions

Production Details

  • Australia

    First performed October 2012 by Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Festival (2012) in association with Sydney Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, Adelaide Festival & Brisbane Festival.

    Presented at the Malthouse Workshop from 8 - 27 October 2013.

    Associate Director: Isaac Drandich.

    Music Consultant: Iain Grandage.

    Lighting Designer: Paul Jackson.

    Props and Costume Designer: Ruby Langton-Batty.

    Dramaturg: Marion Potts.

    Cast: Tom E. Lewis, Jimi Bani, Natasha Wanganeen, Rarriwuy Hick, Jada Alberts, Frances Djulibing, Kamahi Djordon King, and Djamangi Gaykamangu.


    England

    In 2015, a season at London's Barbican Centre (22 June to 2 July 2016) was announced, as part of the program to mark the 400th year since Shakespeare's death.

    The London season includes the same cast as the Australian season: Tom E. Lewis, Jimi Bani, Natasha Wanganeen, Rarriwuy Hick, Jada Alberts, Frances Djulibing, Kamahi Djordon King, and Djamangi Gaykamangu.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Tom E Lewis: An Aboriginal Lear on Walking the Black/White Divide Monica Tan , 2014 single work review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 16 September 2014;

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
Outback Lear Strikes a Chord as it Touches on Vexed Issues Jason Blake , 2014 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 January 2014; (p. 16)

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
The Shadow King - Review Celeste Liddle , 2013 single work review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 17 October 2013;

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
'To take one of Shakespeare's most tormented tragedies and indigenise it is an ambitious project: King Lear has, ...'
Every Inch a King Christine Kenneally , 2013 single work column
— Appears in: The Monthly , December 2013 - January 2014 no. 96 2013; (p. 18-19)
'The article offers the author's insights regarding the theatrical production entitled The Shadow King, directed by Michael Kantor and starring Jimi Bani performed at the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne, Victoria. The author says that the cast of the production including Bani were indigenous who speaks Yumpla Tok, English, and Kala Lagaw Ya throughout the play. He adds that the production will tour in Sydney, New South Wales, Perth, Western Australia, and Adelaide, Southern Australia in 2014.' (Editor's abstract)
Indigenous Lear Wanders in Words but Pleases the Eye Cameron Woodhead , 2013 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 18 October 2013; (p. 31)

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
Campfire King Matthew Westwood , 2013 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 5-6 October 2013; (p. 11)

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
'A new interpretation of Shakespeare's Lear aims to 'grab the white man's songline'...'
Aboriginal Lear Shines in Vibrant 2013 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 18 October 2013; (p. 12)

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
Indigenous Lear Wanders in Words but Pleases the Eye Cameron Woodhead , 2013 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 18 October 2013; (p. 31)

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
Outback Lear Strikes a Chord as it Touches on Vexed Issues Jason Blake , 2014 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 January 2014; (p. 16)

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
Tom E Lewis: An Aboriginal Lear on Walking the Black/White Divide Monica Tan , 2014 single work review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 16 September 2014;

— Review of The Shadow King 2013 single work drama
King Lear With An Imaginative Twist To Play Malthouse Robin Usher , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 11 September 2012; (p. 13)
Lear Not as You Know It but Still Traditional Tim Douglas , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Australian , 11 September 2012; (p. 9)
Jimi Bani Takes on Shakespeare 2012 single work column
— Appears in: National Indigenous Times , 26 September no. 283 2012; (p. 4)
Next Big Things John Bailey , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 2 December 2012; (p. 8-9)
Intense Colour Bridget Cormack , 2013 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 18-19 May 2013; (p. 5-6)
Last amended 10 Dec 2018 15:53:45
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