Colm Feore's King Lear performance in Stratford Festival to premiere on the big screen

Canadian Actor Colm Feore has been riveting audiences with his performance of King Lear on the Stratford stage for months. But now audiences don’t have to go to Stratford, Ont. to see him shine.

King Lear is coming to a screen near you. 

The Stratford Festival has teamed up with Cineplex Entertainment for the theatrical release of King Lear in theatres across Canada starting Thursday. And it’s just the beginning.

The film is part of the Stratford Festival’s HD series that aims to record all its productions for the big screen over the next decade. 

"It’s the best play ever written in the [English] language," says Colm Feore of Shakespeare's King Lear. 

He says the goal is to bring The Bard to a wider and younger audience, and maybe inspire some to see it for themselves.

"We will be able to reach these people and then maybe seduce them to come to Stratford and see it live," Feore told CBC. 

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The 56-year-old stage and screen actor, is also known for his roles in Hollywood blockbusters like Thor and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and he hopes those fans will be open to his more classical roles,

"I have to say I am very grateful to Spider-Man and Thor — I can use that as a calling card to kids. 'Hey you thought the big blue frost giant was cool? Wait until you see the big old grisly nasty old man,'” Feore says. 

Feore says the filmed version of King Lear has a big advantage. "Stratford is a very cinematic stage and Shakespeare was a very cinematic writer."

In addition to King Lear, Stratford’s King John will be released in April, followed by Antony and Cleopatra this May.

For more information or times and tickets see the Stratford Festival's website.