Power, Poison, and Tragedy: CAST Reimagines King Lear

CAST, the Cambridge University American Stage Tour, returns this month with King Lear, embarking on its annual tour of the United States. Supported by Cambridge in America, CAST is one of the University’s premier international theatre initiatives. Led entirely by Cambridge students, the company brings together exceptional actors and technicians to present a Shakespeare production to audiences across the eastern United States each year.

This year’s company is taking a unique approach to the King.

'How does power corrode? CAST 2026: King Lear examines power as poison, one that rots families, fractures societies, and leaves devastation in its wake. The medieval historical fantasy setting, decorated with augural tapestries and crowns, is contrasted with a modern ensemble whose dancing unveils the raw emotional landscape beneath. This production shows that there are no victors in the pursuit of power, only casualties.’