The Comedies are the customary fare for amateur Shakespearean productions and the Arcadians had been through the lot and had presented some of them more than once.

Antony and Cleopatra was the exception and, although it had been a great success, the proposal that we should 'go for broke' and stage King Lear was felt by many to be a bridge too far. A great play, of course, but was it too demanding for any Director who could be persuaded to take it on, for the actors available to us and, principally, would it be too much for our loyal audiences? After some debate we took the 'brave' (some might have thought the 'foolish'!) decision to go ahead.

It proved to be an outstanding choice. It was challenging and fulfilling for everyone involved in the production both on stage and off. Although it was not our biggest Box Office success – some of our regulars may have felt it would not be a Summer's evening confection to go with their picnics – all those who came were impressed and moved.

Immediately after the production we had the distinction of featuring on the front cover of Amateur Stage and, four years later, when acting as Front of House Manager for The Winter's Tale, our Lear was stopped every night by members of the audience to discuss the production. This kind of recognition made it very special.

David Cahill, who played Lear, had acted in three previous productions and directed The Tempest the year before. Our Director for King Lear was his son Paul, who in an earlier existence had been a professional actor, writer and director. The family involvement was completed when Valerie, David's wife, took on the role of Wardrobe Mistress and did a superb job in organising the costumes, ensuring period authenticity and arranging the horrifying logistics of the many changes involved – she was overheard after the final night saying 'never again'!

We would not want to put on a play like this every year but it has put down a marker defining what we are capable of.

“Helping Lear to dress – or has the Wardrobe Mistress finally snapped?!”