WINNER OF THE 2011 THEATRE BOOK PRIZE

Shakespeare's greatest play, directed by the most experienced and acclaimed director in the land, starring one of our very finest actors at the very peak of his powers... What could possibly go wrong?

The stage is set for what promises to be one of the greatest tours in the history of theatre. Take a front row seat as a whole host of stars led by Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Trevor Nunn set off to take the world by storm with their new production of�King Lear�only to endure injuries, critical backlash and almost constant controversy.

As understudy to the King himself, Weston's frank and funny account takes us right through from the London rehearsals to the historical Stratford Season, back to the glittering West End, and then out across the globe. Punctuated with hilarious celebrity anecdotes, insightful travelling tales, and lessons for any aspiring thespian, Weston deftly lifts the curtain the on Royal Shakespeare Company's much heralded tour and reveals the chaos underneath.

David Weston was born in London and was educated at Alleyn's School Dulwich where he was taught by Michael Croft and helped to found the National Youth Theatre. After National Service, where he was commissioned in the Royal Artillery, he won a scholarship to RADA. After seasons of rep in Cheltenham and Manchester he spent most of the sixties making films, including leading roles in such classics as Becket, Heroes of Telemark, Masque of the Red Death and the leading role in Walt Disney's Legend of Young Dick Turpin. Although he has appeared in countless television series and plays, from Dixon of Dock Green and Z Cars, via Minder, Lovejoy, Doctor Who to East Enders and The Bill, his main career has been in the theatre where he was appeared in 27 of Shakespeare's play, many of them several times. He is married and has two sons and four grandchildren and has supported Chelsea FC since 1957.