REVIEW: Lost Lear, EdFringe 2025 ★★★★

We’re in a rehearsal room, with Joy (playing King Lear), some ‘cast and crew’, and understudy Conor, picking up from where we left off. The room feels tense, with Joy frequently demanding re-runs, stealing everyone else’s lines, and barking when she needs a sip of water. 

After stepping outside with employee Liam (also Goneril, Regan, Lear’s Fool and others), and Joy’s son (not understudy) Conor, we realise that this isn’t a rehearsal room at all, but Joy’s care home. She is stuck in the life of her younger, pre-dementia self, reliving her star roles and best scenes. 

Alongside Joy, the audience try to orient themselves through changing characters, through Shakespeare and real life, through past and present. It carries the essence of memory loss in every passing line. 

Joy is a mind-boggling and complex character, performed with complete sincerity by Venetia Bowe. She is an elderly infirm woman, played by a younger actor, illustrating the confinement Joy feels in a body she no longer recognises. It is a gut-wrenching parallel.

Unbelievable still is the puppet version of Joy, maneuvered by our ensemble, and acted/voiced by Bowe. The symbolism of Joy losing control over her body and mind, abdicating to her family and carers, is not lost on us. 

The remix of ‘King Lear’ is pure genius. Joy/Lear, the lonely, isolated head of the family, unwilling to trust those around them and unable to accept the love they have. Even after the consistent rejection from his mother in his younger years, Conor/Cordelia still forgives, still loves despite everything. Shakespeare perseveres even after all this time.

There are a handful of unnecessary frills. The live feed and projection is undoubtedly impressive, but what they add to the production is yet to be determined. Why complicate the devastatingly good acting, beautiful direction, and staggering composition? In this instance, less was more. 

This is a concept to be desired, and one that will spring back in my mind every time I hear Lear say “Pray you now, forget, and forgive.” The storm is the only thing that makes sense, but Lost Lear astonishes come rain or shine.

Recommended Drink: “If you have poison for me, I will drink it.” King Lear, Act IV, Scene VII.

You can catch Lost Lear at Traverse 1 at Traverse Theatre from Aug 6-10, 12-17, 19-24 at Various Times. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.