Nearly Lear

Nearly Lear: One woman re-telling of King Lear through the eyes of the fool! ... Susanna Hamnett's 'Nearly Lear' had me at 'Hello' and it did not let me down. Consummately crafted and acted, Hamnett conjured up an entire cast of characters with a fearless relish last shown by Bottom in Shakespeare's 'Dream', (- though with considerably more skill -) including a comedic death scene to rival that of Pyramus that I couldn't help thinking Shakespeare himself would have been proud of. With wit, joyful playfulness and humour that never became indulgent or lost sight of it's way, this wise fool led us right to the heart of her story, beneath the broken Crown and torn Kingdom, flowery language and 'themes', to a personal story of love and loss we could all relate to, between a parent and their child. Thank you!

Powerful! Masterfully acted, powerfully done. One of the best this fringe. 10/10!

Both hilarious and touching in equal measure, I cannot recommend this show highly enough. The most effective storm scene I have ever experienced. Well worth the standing ovation she received. Don't miss it.

I wouldn’t say King Lear was my favourite Shakespeare play and the last production I saw before this was a very serious one in London. Susanna Hamnett has changed all of that. Totally mesmerising from start to finish. This virtuoso performance deserves all the glowing reviews it has had. The real tragedy is that there are only two more opportunities to see it at this year’s Fringe. Buy some tickets and enjoy.

This is a surprising, touching and brilliantly performed take on King Lear. Susanna Hamnett portrays all the characters distinctly and with humour and subtlety. If you think Lear is an inaccessible play, this angle on it may change your mind. Go and see it!

Susanna Hamnett takes the story of Lear and reimagines it through the lens of an often forgotten character. The result is an intense, incredibly funny, deeply moving performance. Some creative license is taken with the plot and characters, but for an hour and twenty minute one-person production, it is remarkably comprehensive and explores all the main themes. My desire would have been to have the Fool - or Noreen - share some of her Elizabethan counterpart's cynicism, but Hamnett's characterisation gave us someone who was genuine, thoughtful, lonely, and kind through which to view the story. Five stars!!!

Wow! Just saw this performance and was absolutely blown away. Extraordinary storytelling, sharp characterisations, effective staging and lovely touches of humour. Will appeal to fans of Shakespeare and those less familiar with King Lear. But above all a powerful and compelling performance from Susanna Hamnet. Just incredible!

Great performance this. Susanna Hamnett’s one person take on Lear is funny and moving in equal measure. She expertly holds you with her wonderful clowning and gentle audience interaction. Go see it!

What a brilliant show. Rich and inventive, taking you on a totally unexpected tour of Shakespeare's play, lifting out the story and drawing in the characters, all through the quirky eyes of Lear's Fool Norris aka Noreen (who comes from somewhere between Edinburgh and Aberdeen by the sound of things!). Susanna Hamnet's energetic ability to tell stories is infectious and from the heart. Those of you who know Shakespeare will know the difficulty of doing the storm scenes - this show has one of the best I have ever experienced. Go along you will LOVE this show and it will set you up for the rest of your EdFest evening.

Occasionally at the fringe you stumble upon a level of professionalism and consummate storytelling skill which takes a whole audience on a journey through the known and unknown. Susanna Hamnett is a wonderful fool and multiple role player. Through the eyes of her Fool we encounter King Lear at a length and depth which should delight both teacher and even reluctant students. 80 minutes of comedy and tragedy woven across time and space. Thank you. Special mention also to the soundscape and lighting which made Space45 feel the absolutely perfect place for the show. Grab a ticket if you can.

Holy crap, this is brilliant!

A fantastically engaging and surprisingly funny retelling of King Lear. A must see if you're a fan of the show or Shakespeare at all, and worth the trip just to see Susanna's excellent control of the whole cast of characters and even the audience at times.

This was a fun, creative solo retelling of King Lear. Susanna Hamnet is a joy to watch—very expressive and engaging. The play included nice staging, lighting, and sound effects. This was a real treat!

Absolutely outstanding. Extraordinary performance combining intelligent interpretation of the play with comedy which engaged the whole audience. Children in the audience enjoyed it as much as the adults.