Gabriele Lavia Returns to Shakespeare’s King Lear in Milan,Exploring the “Storm of the Mind”
Lavia’s lear isn’t simply a retelling of a classic tale; it’s an exploration of the human condition. The production transforms the tragedy into an allegory for contemporary society, examining the inner turmoil of a man stripped of his identity. “Lear’s storm is the storm of his mind,” Lavia explains.”The storm of the mind of humanity, the death of man who has abandoned his Being. And now he lives his non-Being in the Storm that overwhelms him.”
The director and actor draws a compelling contrast between king Lear and Shakespeare’s Hamlet. While Hamlet grapples with the question of existence – “to be or not to be” – Lear actively chooses “not to be” through his abdication, relinquishing both his crown and his sense of self. “The moment Lear is no longer King, he is just Lear.And what is Lear if he is no longer King? He is but a man.It’s nothing,” Lavia emphasizes.
A Final Cry for Connection
The production culminates in a powerful final scene where Lear cradles his daughter Cordelia and directly addresses the audience, creating what Lavia describes as a “modern collective ritual.” His anguished cry – “Are you men or stones? If I had your throats and your eyes, I would scream and cry untill the vault of the sky shattered…” – is intended to resonate with the audience, prompting a shared experience of pain and truth.
Lavia believes this cry elicits a profound silence from the spectators, “a silence that is a cry of tears.” This new direction, he asserts, is a return not only to Shakespeare and Strehler, but to a basic reflection on humanity, its vulnerabilities, and the potential for self-finding through suffering.
Performance Details
The production of Re Lear will be held at the Piccolo Teatro Strehler (Largo Greppi – M2 Lanza) in Milan from October 28 to November 9,2025.Performances will take place Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm, and on Sundays at 4:00 pm, with Mondays being dark. The play’s duration is three hours and thirty minutes, including an intermission. Ticket prices range from 26 to 33 euros. Reservations can be made by calling 02.21126116 or visiting www.piccoloteatro.org.
The cast includes Gabriele Lavia alongside Giovanni Arezzo,Giuseppe Benvegna,Eleonora Bernazza,Beatrice Ceccherini,Federica Di Martino,Ian Gualdani,Luca Lazzareschi,Mauro Mandolini,Andrea Nicolini,Giuseppe Pestillo,Alessandro Pizzuto,Gianluca Scaccia,Silvia Siravo,and Lorenzo Tomazzoni. the production team features Alessandro Camera (scenery), Andrea Viotti (costumes), Giuseppe Filipponi (lights), Antonio Di Pofi (music), and Riccardo Benassi (play). Assistant directors are Matteo Tarasco and Enrico Torzillo, with Michela Mantegazza serving as stage assistant and Giulia Rovetto as costume assistant. Nicolò Ayroldi will be the prompter.
