First Encounters is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s touring production, designed to be the perfect introduction to Shakespeare.
Touring to schools and venues across the UK, it is aimed at 7- to 13-year-olds, but is also suitable for parents and members of the community who might be encountering Shakespeare for the first time.
The focus is very much on the storytelling, to bring the audience along with the narrative.
This 80-minute version of King Lear uses an edited version of the original play to create the perfect introduction for young people.
A king announces that he will divide his kingdom between his three daughters according to how much they love him. Lear thinks he will live out his old age with all of the comforts of kingship, and none of the responsibility. But the eldest two daughters, Goneril & Regan, have other ideas in mind – and he has given away all power to stop them. His vanity has devastating consequences for family, nation and climate.
First Encounters: King Lear makes Shakespeare’s play about family, power and betrayal relevant for a new generation of theatregoers.
When is it: 4 November 2025 at 1.30pm
Where is it: Mayflower Studios
How to attend: Tickets are £10. Schools can sign up to attend by contacing Mayflower Studios via this form.
The tour of First Encounters: King Lear is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, which makes it possible for the RSC to expand its tour to work in partnership with more places across England.
