Lit Moon Theatre will present William Shakespeare’s “King Lear” as part of its current World Theatre Festival, Jan. 22-25 at the Community Arts Workshop (CAW), 631 Garden St., Santa Barbara.

Cast members wearing shiny gold vests and crowns rehearse a scene from Lit Moon Theatre Company's performance of 'Lear.' (Courtesy photo)
Lit Moon Theatre Company’s performance of ‘Lear’ will be at the Community Arts Workshop. (Courtesy photo)

Lit Moon created its “Lear” last summer in the village of Capari in North Macedonia specifically for the Ohrid Summer Festival, and premiered at the Church of Saint Sophia, a ninth-century Orthodox Church in July.

The show was created by an international company of artists from North Macedonia, Armenia, England, Finland and the US – what the company now calls Lit Moon World.

The play interweaves the stories of two families. In one, Lear divides his kingdom between two daughters who flatter him, and exiles his youngest who loves him. In another, the Duke of Gloucester trusts a treacherous son, and suspects a loyal one.

After much heartache, the stories merge by the play’s conclusion.

Lit Moon World’s production compacts the story, presenting vivid images and visual storytelling, fused with Shakespeare’s incomparable language.

“The performance evokes worlds lost and times past, atmospheres drenched in ancient rituals, ghosts and dreams, simple storytelling, and original music,” the company said. “Now, we return home, to our origins and starting place, to present the show in Santa Barbara, at the unique and marvelous Community Arts Workshop.”

Lit Moon’s artistic work cultivates dramaturgical and visual experiments with classic texts, and an image-based performance style.

The company has created some 40 new theatrical projects; produced 13 international theater festivals; received awards for its artists; developed residencies with artists from nine different countries; and toured festivals and residencies in Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Scotland, Canada, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and China.

John Blondell is the founding artistic director of Lit Moon Theatre Company in Santa Barbara and its international extension Lit Moon World; professor of theatre arts and global ambassador for the Performing Arts at Westmont College.

Santa Barbara resident Duane Henry took part in a world premiere performance of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” in summer 2024 at the Ohrid Summer Festival in North Macedonia.

Born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK, Henry is known for his role as Clayton Reeves on “NCIS” starting in 2016, “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012), “Captain Marvel (2019), and “The Oxford Murders” (2008).

For more, visit https://litmoontheatre.com/performance/lit-moon-world-theater-festival/.