Ian McKellen has rejoined the Royal Shakespeare Company after a 17-year gap – a few minor movie epics such as The Lord of the Rings and The X-Men have intervened – to lead a Trevor Nunn-directed ensemble in Shakespeare’s mighty poem of mortality and Chekhov’s first masterpiece about the theatre. After completing a Stratford-upon-Avon season at the end of this month, the caravan moves on to Newcastle, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and America before settling into the New London on Drury Lane. I’d recommend King Lear, a truly outstanding production, with McKellen at his very finest, and counsel caution with the Chekhov – at the moment, no great shakes. http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk