King Lear is one of Shakespeare’s most revered tragedies.

The story of a family at war, headed by an ageing and deeply flawed king has been described as one of the most intense and dramatic stage experiences.

Like most of Shakespeare's work, it has been re-interpreted and re-imagined countless times.

But Northern Broadsides theatre company is promising its new version is “stripped back to its heart and soul”.

The company brings King Lear to the Rose Theatre this month, a venue that is becoming a home from home for the Halifax-based group.

Following critically-acclaimed productions of Rutherford & Son in 2013, and last year's She Stoops To Conquer, Rose audiences' expectations will be high.

So the news that the company has turned once again to the great Jonathan Miller, who directed the award-winning Rutherford, will be welcomed.

Northern Broadsides artistic director Barrie Rutter plays Lear, and says Miller’s vision makes it one of the most powerful versions of Shakespeare's tragedy.

Rutter says: “On the first day of rehearsal [Miller] said this is play about people talking to each other," says Rutter. “It is important to remember that this is a play not a film. Everything comes from the way these people talk to each other.”

The production will be the stripped back to basics, but still set in the time it was written.

Despite this Rutter says this is not your traditional King Lear production. He says: “The costumes represent 1605, but that is as far as we go in terms of tradition.

“The setting is very simple and it is beautifully lit. There are no big curtails which is refreshing.

“The simplicity of the production helps the story speed up and our version is two hours 20 minutes long.”

For Rutter and Northern Broadsides this is a welcome return to Kingston.

Rutter says: “We have been on tour for nine weeks and the audience reaction has been fantastic. “We were the first touring company to play the Rose when we brought Henry V there back in 2002. It really is a great theatre to play.

“We have 14 people in the cast, which is now relatively rare for a touring company and the Kingston audience can expect a clear vision of the story.”

King Lear; The Rose Theatre, Kingston; Tuesday, May 19 to Saturday, May 23; from £9; visit rosetheatrekingston.org for more information.