***** 5 star review from The Stage

"This King Lear is an intensely moving experience"

"..wraparound intimacy of the Minerva, in a modern-dress staging that is both urgent and driven"

"Jonathan Munby's production, which plays out on a large circular red velvet carpeted disc that later becomes a barren white chalk stone surface, has the drive and cross-cut dramatic urgency of a Netflix thriller."

"Oliver Fenwick's lighting and the music by Ben and Max Ringham become like additional characters populating and animating the stage."

"There's strong work, too, from Jonathan Bailey as a notably lithe Edgar, Damien Molony as Edmund, and the superb Michael Matus as a blustering Oswald."

King Lear starring Ian McKellen review the Minerva Theatre, Chichester – ‘intensely moving’

Here's another fantastic King Lear review..

***** 5 stars from The Telegraph!

No mention of Damien, but very rightly applauding the great Sir Ian McKellen!

Also..

"One hopes, of course, that this isn’t the last time we’ll see him in Shakespeare or on stage but if this is his swansong, what a triumph – and one I fervently pray is caught on film."

King Lear review: Ian McKellen reigns supreme in this triumphant production

I'm with you all fifi Ellie and Jozie, the more we hear about this production of King Lear, the more special it sounds.. many reviews mention how intensely moving it is, this makes my heart yearn to see it. The contemporary take and modern dress also seem to have gone over extremely well don't they?  

Really hoping these outstanding reviews guarantee a recording of some sort, it would be criminal to deprive the wider audience!

If you are one of the lucky fans who has seen King Lear and you're reading this, do come and share your thoughts, we'd love to hear from you !

A very positive 4-star review from the Grauniad here: "Jonathan Munby’s smart, lucid production features plenty of pomp and circumstance, and a superbly detailed performance by McKellen"

Somewhat bizarrely though it doesn't mention either Damien or Jonny Bailey as Edmund and Edgar (since it mentions pretty much everybody else!).

***** 5 star review from The Evening Standard

"Jonathan Bailey’s Edgar is a touching study of transformation — from naive innocence into morally serious worldliness — and Damien Molony captures the self-seeking resentment of his half-brother Edmund."

King Lear, theatre review: Ian McKellen's detailed, intelligent performance is a triumph

**** 4 star review from Broadway World 

""The world of Munby's King Lear feels big, its rotundity encompassing and drawing in audiences. From the King to the "poor naked wretches", we see their stories and weather the storms with them. The strength of this production comes from its impressive ensemble, led by an incredible but not infallible McKellen"

"Ironically, Damien Molony's bastard Edmund takes after his father. His actions planned meticulously, this Edmund is an individual with a desire only for power. His relationship to the sisters is an important feature in other productions; here, he uses them as much as they use him."

BWW Review: KING LEAR, Chichester Festival Theatre

**** 4 star review from the Financial Times, with a great mention of Damien

"As the treacherous Edmund, Damien Molony is fluent and downright casual in his serial wickednesses, almost sociopathic."

Ian McKellen as King Lear — a powerfully reflective performance

Wow, what can I say ''AMAZING''. A fantastic story played out by a cast of spectacular actors, each one faultless (how do they remember their lines!!). The Minerva Theatre was a wonder to behold, such an intimate setting, on the front row I sometimes felt I was in the production.

What an honour to be able to see the great Sir Ian McKellen who at 78 years old owned the stage like a teenager, throwing chairs, fighting, what an inspiration to us all and well deserved the standing ovation he got at the end.

And although my heart  (as all yours do) belongs to Mr Molony I would have to say my 'Man of the Match' (as they say in football) would have to go to Jonathan Bailey, who apart from spending most of the play nearly naked, portrayed the role of the tormented Edgar or Poor Tom to perfection.

The set was simple yet thats all it needed to be, the fx's were excellent and believable from the pouring (and I mean pouring...) rain (poor Sir Ian and Phil Daniels were drenched for ages) to the blood from the wounds and especially the gorging of the eyes moment which I think is usually done off stage, took centre stage and was pretty shocking and gross, as it should be.

One of my favourite scenes has to be the fight between the two brothers Edmund and Edgar (Damien and Jonathan) timed perfectly to make it so believable that I can't believe they haven't really hurt each other. My not so favourite scenes, Edmund (Damien) kissing all three of the sisters... #sojealous lol .

In all a complete joy to watch, well worth the four hour drive from Nottingham to see it. Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY in fact as soon as it ended I went on line to see if I could get any more tickets but sadly its a complete sell out, lets hope its recorded for everyone to enjoy.

Hi 

Damien did speak with an Irish accent (love it, my sat nav is now Irish lol) his costumes varied, he started, within the first minute of the play which took me by surprise, in a tuxedo, after that we saw him in casual trousers and a brown long sleeved polo top, sometimes with a jacket (reminded me a bit of Lord Hals) then nearer the end he wore army camouflage (very nice).

He did have a few soliloquies, the sound was really good, no over shouting just normal voice, the Minerva is a small area, the voices carried really well, Jonathan Bailey shouted very close to us a few times and made me jump...

As for the rain, omg there was 'a lot' of it, we didn't get wet as such, maybe the odd splash now and again, we did have to wait at the interval whilst they mopped the floor to stop us slipping everywhere. Once inside I did understand the posters saying you couldn't leave your seats during the production, or if you were late you wouldn't be allowed in, the actors used all the theatre space so had anyone had to pay a visit they could well have ended up in all the action lol.