Michael
Pennington
Greetings!
As predicted the first half of 2016 has been, as the saying goes, Lear-inflected: ten touring dates, eight shows (usually) a week, so putting that together with the Brooklyn Lear of 2014, I’ve now done about 150 performances of the part, which pleases me a lot. I hope some of you may have seen it: it certainly was a joy to do, and kept reminding me of the old ESC touring days.
Like a sort of travelling salesman I went with my new book KING LEAR IN BROOKLYN metaphorically under my arm, since sure enough that was published near the start of the tour, and is so to speak still running, as I’m doing quite a few literary festivals, signing and also doing a sort of hour-long mini show of readings from it; also a BBC2 film which managed to feature a huge number of Lears past and present - and there have been five this year to my knowledge - not to mention lots of interviews, all in a half hour film. Rather remarkable piece of documentary work by Artsnight I thought and good ratings.
So the second half of the year I’ve been having a sort of Post-Traumatic-Not-Very-Stressful Lear-Disorder, or in other words, a fit of bone idleness. I did an episode of Endeavour (the ITV prequel to Inspector Morse), with old friends (Roger Allam) and making new ones (Shaun Evans) directed by Ken Loach’s son Jim who definitely has more than a touch of the master in him. I’ve been teaching In Romania too, as I think Mary has reported.
And that’s about it for the moment. No plans, though they do have a way of rearing up suddenly. Thanks for reading this, and thanks for your interest this year as ever. Happy 2017 – with perhaps a few less shocks in the world than 2016!
This site is maintained by Mary Hunwicks on behalf of Michael Pennington
Michael has several appearances lined up over the next few months.
They are entitled King Lear in Brooklyn and Chekhov in Siberia.
The former consists of readings from the book, plus a signing and Q & A;
The latter is not the full length Chekhov show but an hour’s dramatised reading of the Chekhov’s travels in Siberia - which was originally a radio production which Michael has now adapted for the stage. Read a review following a performance at the Royal Society of Literature.
Click here for a list of the venues and contact details.
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Old Vic's Master of Disguise |
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The Entertainer finds new life ... |
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Ugly Americans, British Style |
In Defence of the Playwright |
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The thing with this play |
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How to be in two plays at one time |
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Rigorous romantic |
If this is Venice |
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Bring on the Russian Horses |
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In the shadows .... |
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Former Spear Carrier |
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By Gloucester Docks |
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Antony and Cleopatra |
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Classics for Pleasure |
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Sentimental journey |
Reviews |
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Lucky Stryk |
Reviews |
From Russia ... with love |
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The book the Bishop burnt |
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The Return of Sherlock Holmes |
Fragile |
Britain isn't Working |
The Iron Lady |
Elementary, my dear Miss Watson |
Review |
Hamlet. A User's Guide |
Twelfth Night. A User's Guide |
Are You There Crocodile? |
A Pocket Guide |
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Players of Shakespeare |
Audio |
Books |
Direction |
English Shakespeare Company |
Film |
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Readings |
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Archives Jan/June 2012 |
Archives July/December 2011 |
Archives Jan/June 2011 |
Archives July/December 2010 |
Archives Jan/June 2010 |
Archives July/Dec 2009 |
Archives Jan/June 2009 |
Stage |
Audio |
Television |
Radio |
Film |
Books |
Plays |
Anton Chekhov |
Sweet William |
English Shakespeare Company |
Readings |
Direction |
An interview wiith Antony himself |
Reviews |
Michael Pennington on Ibsen |
Exeunt.com |
Ibsen's Judgement at The Print Room |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Interview |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Shakespearean actor learns from 'Love' |
Reviews |
Collaboration & Taking Sides |
San Francisco Sentinel |
The News |
Reviews Chichester |
Reviews London |
On ... Doing a West End Double |
When Bobby Met Terry |
Reviews |
Nellie Ternan |
Reviews |
A curious character |
Reviews |
The Short Answer |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
The Knives Are Out |
Reviews |
They call it puppet love |
Reviews |
Interview |
A performance fit for a King |
A World of Schemers |
Reviews |
Peter's friends |
From Russia With Love |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Coping with the Apocalypse |
Pennington back in fold |
Labours of love |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Changing of the Guard |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Old Vic's Master of Disguise |
Studies in misogyny |
Reviews |
The Entertainer finds new life ... |
Reviews |
Ugly Americans, British Style |
In Defence of the Playwright |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
The thing with this play |
There's something nice ... |
Reviews |
Reviews |
How to be in two plays at one time |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Rigorous romantic |
If this is Venice |
Reviews |
Bring on the Russian Horses |
Man with a lean and hungry look |
Reviews |
Reviews |
In the shadows .... |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
A state of mind and body |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
The Travels of Michael |
First Wicket Down |
Reviews |
Way of the Actor |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Former Spear Carrier |
One man's week |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Limelight 1967 |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Chekhov's Vaudevilles |
The cherries on Chekhov's birthday cake |
A Jubilee |
Reviews |
Cottesloe 1984 |
Dublin 1990 |
Old Vic 1997 |
Winchester Festival 2003 |
ETT 2003 |
Hampstead Theatre 2008 |
Little Angel Theatre |
Arcola Theatre |
Guthrie Theater |
Hampstead Theatre London |
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre |
Oxford Playhouse |
Salisbury Playhouse |
Theatre Royal Northampton |
reviews |
Talks about book |
From Macbeth to Lear |
Performance |
Direction - Twelfth Night |
Books |
Videos |
Theatre company head quits |
The Henry Trilogy |
The Wars of the Roses |
Coriolanus |
The Winter's Tale |
Macbeth |
Henry IV Part I |
Henry IV Part II |
Henry V |
Reviews |
Articles |
Heady Challenge |
Hurray for the new Henry |
The Bard takes to the Road |
A bubble for the Bard |
Marathon Man |
Bard Boy |
Richard II |
Henry IV Part I |
Henry IV Part II |
Henry V |
Henry VI Lancaster |
Henry VI York |
Richard III |
Reviews |
Articles |
A Magnificent Seven |
Star Wars, Rose Wars |
An ambitious programme |
Tough company |
The Battle of the Bards |
Cycling Shakespeare |
Histories for our time |
A garment all of blood |
Coriolanus & WT Reviews |
Articles |
Roman Hero for our day |
Sun rises on Coriolanus |
A theatrical tour de force |
Son of Shakespeare-Wallah |
Bard on the Run |
Reviews |
Articles |
Now and thane |
Bard stripped bare |
Reviews |
The Story of the Wars of the Roses |
Operation Shakespeare |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
A Midsummer Night's Dream |
Twelfth Night (Chicago) |
Twelfth Night (Tokyo) |
Kafka - A Report to the Academy |
Alone Together |
Twelfth Night Across the Continents |
On Acting and Directing Shakespeare |
Reviews |
Reviews |
By Gloucester Docks |
The Name of the Rose |
Felix in the Underworld |
Antony and Cleopatra |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Classics for Pleasure |
Reviews |
Sentimental journey |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Lucky Stryk |
Reviews |
From Russia ... with love |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
Reviews |
The book the Bishop burnt |
Reviews |
Reviews |
The Return of Sherlock Holmes |
Fragile |
Britain isn't Working |
The Iron Lady |
Elementary, my dear Miss Watson |
Review |
Hamlet. A User's Guide |
Twelfth Night. A User's Guide |
Are You There Crocodile? |
A Pocket Guide |
A Midsummer Night's Dream. A User's Guide |
Players of Shakespeare |
Audio |
Books |
Direction |
English Shakespeare Company |
Film |
Theatre |
Radio |
Readings |
Television |