Actor David Threlfall, best known for his unflinching, RTS Award-winning portrayal of Frank Gallagher in Channel 4’s Shameless, is returning to the stage after a 27-year absence to tackle Shakespeare’s most demanding role.
Directed and adapted by Matthew Dunster, this reimagined King Lear serves as the fifth production in the Royal Exchange Theatre’s 50th-anniversary season, titled “A Homecoming.” The production will run from October 2 to November 15, 2026, in Manchester.
Shakespeare’s elemental tragedy offers a searing portrait of a king unable to distinguish truth from lies as power corrupts, families become enemies, and prosperity devolves into war. It is a fittingly monumental return for the 71-year-old Manchester-born actor, whose celebrated career includes an Olivier Award win (The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby) and a Broadway Tony Award nomination (Hangmen).
David Threlfall previously served as the Royal Exchange’s associate artistic director during the 1980s and 90s, and his past Royal Exchange appearances include Macbeth, Peer Gynt, Present Laughter, The Count of Monte Cristo, Your Home in the West, Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus the King, and Riddley Walker.
He also notably played Edgar opposite Sir Laurence Olivier in a 1983 TV adaptation of King Lear, filmed at Granada’s Manchester studio.
In this year’s special production of King Lear, Threlfall is backed by a highly accomplished cast, including Mercury Prize-nominated musician Nadine Shah, who acts as Goneril while also serving as the production’s composer.
King Lear cast
The full King Lear cast has been announced:
- David Threlfall as King Lear
- Nadine Shah as Goneril
- Lisa Diveney as Regan
- Isobel Akuwudike as Cordelia
- Jonathan Slinger as Gloucester
- Nicholas Karimi as Albany & Brawn
- Tom Varey as Edgar
- Paddy Stafford as Edmund
- Jason Done as Kent
Completing the ensemble are: Ed Coleman (Cornwall & French Officer), Gabin Kongolo (France & Curan), Anwar Russell (returning to the Exchange as Burgundy & Oswald), Ryan Pope (returning as Elias), Grace Jabbari (Doctor & Edmund’s Lover), Jessica Mannion (Guen), Harry Clarke (Ned), and Rupert Hill (returning as Torin).
“A Homecoming”: A Star-Studded Golden Anniversary
The wider “A Homecoming” anniversary season kicks off in September, with King Lear dominating the stage throughout October and into November—cementing its place as one of the theatrical highlights of the year.
The season opens with Jim Cartwright’s landmark 1986 play, Road, starring Johnny Vegas, Lucy Beaumont, and Shobna Gulati. Theatre stalwart Sir Tom Courtenay, 88, will also make his 17th appearance at the venue via a pre-recorded screen role.
Beyond King Lear, the 2026 season offers a dynamic blend of daring new writing and classic revivals:
- Even These Things by Rory Mullarkey – Spans three eras of Manchester history, including the 1996 IRA bombing that damaged the Royal Exchange.
- Shooters by Tolu Okanlawon – Winner of the Bruntwood Prize; inspired by African-American photojournalist Gordon Parks.
- Fun Home – A revival of the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning musical by Jeanine Tesori & Lisa Kron.
- Private Lives – A classic comedic revival of the Noël Coward favourite.
- A Little Night Music – Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical.
The Royal Exchange remains one of the most strongly supported venues in the UK, sitting just behind the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Arts Council England funding. Bolstered by a line-up of household names, ambitious new works, and David Threlfall’s long-awaited return, the theatre is poised to reassert its reputation as one of the country’s most vital and vibrant stages.
King Lear is playing at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester from Friday 2 October until Sunday 15 November, and you can get tickets here.
