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Ray as King Lear in rehearsals

Ray Rumkee is no stranger to listeners of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Humberside or long time readers of the Hull Daily Mail. He's been a regular fixture on the Saturday breakfast programme for years but before that he was the Mail's daily tv critic. His column was instigated by the incoming news editor John Meehan in the mid 1990's.

Ray had just moved into journalism from another area within the paper when he readily took on the role of critic not quite expecting it to run as long as it did. Although he's moved on from the paper, he still writes a weekly column giving his views on tv programmes. He has the distinction of being on the winning team of the last ever 'Telly Addicts', a popular tv quiz hosted by Noel Edmonds.

His association with the Chameleon Players began many years ago and during that time he's taken on a variety of roles. From sleuths and murderers to horses (he explains in his interview the equine connection), he's tackled them all. In the forthcoming production of King Lear he plays the eponymous lead. He's proud of the fact the group has taken on this production, as Shakespeare's work can be demanding on the performers. He says many amateur groups often shy away from such ambitious endeavours and members of the public rarely get to see Shakespeare's work on stage in this area.

The play is three hours long, but does include an interlude and therefore Ray says people should not be discouraged from seeing the performance. He says Shakespeare's work was written for the people of his time for their entertainment and although the language at the start can be challenging, audiences soon get to grips with the story.

In King Lear, the ageing king makes the decision to divide his realm amongst his three daughters. Their share will be based according to how much they express their love for him. The youngest daughter declares she won't play along and is banished because of her defiance. The kingdom and the king suffer as a result of these events and the story reveals a complex set of emotions and events at play. In this performance many Chameleon stalwarts return to the stage. Simon King (at the back) in this picture plays the Earl of Kent, and in the foreground is Neil Coleman who plays 'Edgar', who figures prominently in one of the play's sub-plots.

Ray has directed a number of Shakespeare's works for the Players and to keep things fresh for this production, Miranda van Rossum takes on the role of the 'The Fool'. Usually played by a male actor Ray says this key role will prove a challenge for her and give the audience something more to think about.

Performances of King Lear,Μύtake place at the Northern Academy of Performing Arts (N.A.P.A.) on Anlaby Road in Hull, 20th-22nd June inclusive beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from N.A.P.A. directly or by calling 01482 310690. They are also available from Perfectprint in the Hepworth's Arcade.