Written in 1605–6, King Lear is one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. Set in eighth-century Britain, it tracks the story of an elderly king who decides to distribute his kingdom amongst his three daughters based on their apparent love for him, and must suffer the ruinous consequences of his follies. Adapted extensively for the cinema, television, and radio, Lear’s character remains one of the most coveted among actors, and has been portrayed by stalwarts such as Laurence Olivier, Paul Scofield and Ian McKellen.