Considered to be one of Shakespeare’s greatest and darkest works, King Lear follows the title character as he falls into madness after dividing his kingdom between two of his three daughters.

This latest production, directed in Bath by Lucy Bailey, sees the drama unfold in a 1960s gangland setting, with David Haig starring as the tragic figure of King Lear.

Haig, who is known for his versatility having played a range of comedic and dramatic characters in film, theatre and TV, could not be more suited to the role of Lear, capturing all the eccentricities of the ageing king.

From the very first time he stepped on stage, there was an unmistakable tension as Haig’s Lear courted the flattery of his three daughters, before unleashing his anger on Cordelia for her blunt refusal to agree to his demands.

It was a powerful opening to the performance and as the wheel started to come full circle, Haig’s portrayal of Lear’s descent into madness was both heartbreaking and comedic at the same time.

While Haig was undoubtedly the star of the show, he was supported by an excellent cast, including an unnerving performance by Samuel Edward-Cook as the devilish Edmund.

Also of note were Aislin McGuckin and Fiona Glascott, who play Lear’s scheming and repellent daughters Goneril and Regan, while Simon Gregor stole pretty much every scene he was in as the Fool, providing light-hearted relief and even a bit of flesh.

Praise must also go to set designer William Dudley whose incorporation of video projection was essential to creating East London in the 1960s, with warehouses, car parks and nightclubs providing the backdrop to the drama.

With such unrelenting darkness and misery, King Lear is not a play to be taken lightly, but this latest production manages to capture all of the twisted relationships and breakdowns while also having a bit of fun.

The combination of strong performances throughout, stunning set design and an interesting modernisation of a classic, mean that this is up there with the very best Lears.