King Lear was a play by William Shakespeare. The First Doctor witnessed its debut performance and later reflected that Richard Burbage was a good actor, but "rubbish at portraying old men crushed by the delicious uncertainties of life".
When he was woken by James asking, "Now good sir, what are you?", the Doctor noted the irony and quoted the play, saying: "A poor man made tame to fortune's blows". (PROSE: Byzantium!)
One 1906 version of the production in San Francisco was directed by Charles Virgil McLean. (AUDIO: The Gift)
Arthur wanted to use a quote from King Lear as his dying words. (PROSE: The Death of Me)
Behind the scenes
The 2008 film adaptation, broadcast on Channel 4, starred Ian McKellen in the role of King Lear. Others in the cast were Sylvester McCoy, William Gaunt, Frances Barber, David Weston, John Heffernan, Julian Harries, Kieran Bew, Peter Hinton and Ben Addis.
Paul Wheeler was the cinematographer for the film. It was filmed at Pinewood Studios.