[SLIDESHOW] ‘Geoffrey’ from Fresh Prince takes on King Lear

In their sixth stint at the Malta Arts Festival, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre will be performing one of the Bard’s ultimate tragedies: King Lear. At its helm will be Joseph Marcell as King Lear, who is probably best known for his role as Geoffrey in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

The play revolves around the old King Lear, who decides to divide his realm among his three daughters. As two of them profess their love for him, Cordelia, his favourite, does not find words to describe her feelings, and the infuriated Lear disinherits her.

READ MORE: Exclusive MaltaToday interview with Joseph Marcell

As the other two daughters’ true colours come to light, and Lear realises his mistake, the old king slowly descends into insanity and the play comes to a culmination on a heath during a great thunderstorm.

Meanwhile, an elderly nobleman named Gloucester also experiences family problems as his son, Edmund, tricks him into believing that his other son, Edgar, is trying to kill him. Fleeing his father, Edgar disguises himself as a beggar and calls himself ‘Poor Tom’. Like Lear, he heads out onto the heath.

Directed by Bill Buckhurst, the Globe’s King Lear explores a relevant and exciting piece of history that is as timeless as it is timely. The production is currently touring the UK, Europe and Asia.

Photography by Matthew Miriabelli

Running from 14 July to 2 August, artists from Croatia, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, South Africa and Russia will join some of the best Maltese artists in a festival with 18 performances and a separate programme of workshops and master classes. Most of these events will be held in some of the island’s most prestigious historical venues, such as the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Pjazza Teatru Rjal and the newly-restored Fort St Elmo.

For more information log on to maltaartsfestival.org