SCENE 1
King Lear Divides his Kingdom
Lear, the aged King of Britain, feels he can no longer | rule his kingdom and has decided to divide it between his three daughters. Each is In receive a third of his land as a dowry; the one who expresses her love for him most eloquently will receive the finest portion. Goneril and Regan make lavish claims about their love for their father but Cordelia, the youngest and Lear's favourite, refuses to say anything.

Lear is furious at Cordelia's reaction. He immediately disinherits her and divides the kingdom solely between Goneril and Regan. Lear proposes to live with them in turn, together with his reduced personal retinue of a hundred knights.

Then he summons his royal guest, the King of France, and invites him to choose one of his daughters as a wife. Despite her lack of dowry, France chooses Cordelia. Lear refuses to give his blessing to the marriage.

SCENE 2
The Departure of Cordelia and the King of France
After her marriage, Cordelia is banished from her to father's kingdom. Although she vows devotion to her husband, she is worried about leaving her father in the dubious care of her sisters.

SCENE 3
At Goneril's Palace
Goneril complains of the unruly behaviour of Lear's go knights and demands that he dismiss half of them. Enraged by her ingratitude, Lear puts a terrible curse on Goneril and resolves to go and stay with Regan. He orders his Fool to summon his knights. The Fool returns with the news that Goneril had already dismissed the fifty knights. Lear's fury increases.

SCENE 4
At Regan s Palace
Lear tells Regan of Goneril's unkind behaviour, but she is unsympathetic, reminding him that his daughters know what is best for him.

Goneril arrives and the two women taunt him. Why does he need fifty knights? Or more to the point why does he need even one? Lear replies that if a man has no more than is absolutely necessary, he is no different from an animal.

Fighting back tears, and feeling himself close to madness, Lear leaves the palace with his Fool, vowing terrible revenge on his two evil daughters They bar the gates against his return.

SCENE 5
The Storm
Lear and his Fool wander in open countryside through the night in the middle of a fierce storm.

Lear seems to be losing his mind. The Fool urges him to take cover in a nearby animal shelter, but Lear chooses to stay out in the storm, meditating on the people of his neglected kingdom.

On entering the shelter, the Fool is immediately chased out by a crazed creature called Tom. Lear examines this strange being and declares it is a man. He decides that, since he himself is now as destitute as Tom, he must throw away his royal clothes and learn to live like him. To the Fool's horror, Lear divests himself of his crown and jewels.

INTERVAL

The storm grows stronger and the Fool eventually persuades Lear to take cover. He and Tom quickly fall asleep, but Lear continues to be tormented by thoughts of his wicked daughters. He wakes up the others, announcing that he wants to try Goneril and Regan, with Tom and the Fool as his assistant judges.

SCENE 6
One Return of Cordelia and France
The King of France and Cordelia invade Britain to avenge Lear of the betrayal of Goneril and Regan. They are greeted by the Fool who tells them how Lear is now a broken man.

France resolves to fight Goneril and Regan himself and tells the Fool to take Cordelia to her father. As she leaves, Cordelia warns her husband to be careful. France then prepares his weapons and assembles his army for battle

SCENE 7
The Reconciliation of Lear and Cordelia
The Fool and Cordelia spy Lear wandering around aimlessly dressed in weeds and wild flowers. As he settles down to sleep, Cordelia sends the Fool to fetch his crown.

Cordelia invokes the gods and nature to heal her sleeping father's mind. Lear slowly wakes up and recognises his beloved daughter. He asks her to forgive him.

Suddenly, a soldier appears and takes Cordelia and the Fool prisoner. Lear picks up his crown, resolving to resume his royal self to save Cordelia.

SCENE 8
The Battle
As Britain falls into anarchy, Goneril and Regan themselves are at war with one another, but unite to fight France. During the ensuing battle, the soldier arrives and announces that he has taken Cordelia prisoner Regan orders Cordelia's murder and, in retaliation, France kills Goneril and Regan.

SCENE 9
The Death of Lear
King Lear arrives in full state and surveys the battlefield. He approaches Cordelia's body, looking for signs of life. Torn between anger and despair, he dies of a broken heart, half-believing that Cordelia may still be alive.