The Last Audition
Star Theatre Two
Sun 22 Feb, 2026

Paul Shearman has obviously paid his dues to the Bard in his long career on the boards. His new show ‘The Last Audition’ entertains on many levels, underpinned by the delivery of the words of our most famous author in the English language. Using passages from King Lear, and also drawing on other plays at times to tell this story, Paul weaves together several strands: reflections on the actor’s craft, his own development through the hands of various teachers, and the theme of mental decline with ageing.

We experience again the thrill of these lines being spoken in what must be the most ideal way possible, given Shearman’s dedication to perfecting this essential element of the Bard’s work. His commanding talent makes for captivating theatre. However, he is also adept at, as he puts it, ‘keeping out of the way of the Bard’s genius.’ In total humility he ‘lets the poetry do the work,’ as one of his many mentors said.

The gradual way the scourge of losing your mental abilities is introduced through the play mimics the insidious way that these illnesses gradually grow more serious. What at first appears to be the mere tiredness of an ageing body turns into a far deeper issue. What lies ahead for you to do, when this is all you know and love?

King Lear’s ranting and other quotes neatly parallel and illustrate these various stages of anger, denial, grief, etc., which typically accompany these changes. Courageously Paul Shearman explores the debilitating, humiliating and puzzling loss of power these changes effect. Throughout the show Paul manages to lighten this delicate subject with random surprises, dashes of gentle humour, and his disarming smile.

His world tour of this show indicates how the Bard is still beloved around the globe. In fact, in places like America, Germany and many other countries he is ‘bigger’ than in England. This combination of the old yet timeless and relatively new wave of dementia-type illnesses presents a lively, fresh performance well worth seeing and hearing, along with the pure enjoyment of the Bard’s words.