Deb's Digest
Debbie Atkinson’s family life column, as featured in the Southport Visiter.

Sunday 18 November 2007

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I studied King Lear for A level English but I don't remember it being a brutal play. I'd managed to get superb seats for the RSC production of the play in London, starring Ian McKellen. And at the end of the three-and-a-half hours I was completely washed out - the brutality was absolutely amazing and brilliantly done - people swiping blades all over their skin and apparently gushing blood, eyes being gouged out and the first half ended with the "fool" being hanged from the scaffolding - and continuing to hang from a noose right through the interval, while people ate their ice creams. Ian McKellen was fantastic - it was a once-in-lifetime experience. We took the car as far as The Holiday Inn near Hemel Hempstead and then crossed the road to the station. It was a very easy way to do London and meant we could set off and arrive early in the day - instead of waiting for the cheaper train times.

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