Yo Home To Bel-Lear

Bel Air butler Geoffrey playing King Lear in Bristol this May


The worlds of Bel Air and Bristol will collide this spring when Geoffrey the butler arrives in town to star in a touring Globe production of King Lear. 

Looked at my kingdom, I was finally there, to sit on my throne as Shakespeare’s King Lear

Geoffrey, otherwise known as Joseph Marcell, has taken time off from his usual job as the Banks family butler to tread the boards at St George’s on the 4th and 5th May.

Since Fresh Prince ended its run on TV, Geoffrey has devoted his attention to another Will known for brilliant rhymes and wordplay, performing in several Shakespeare productions and acting as a board member of the reconstructed Globe.

“I read somewhere that it is perhaps the greatest honour an actor can be given – when he gets to a certain age – to be given the part of King Lear,” said Geoffrey, presumably in between running errands for Philip and Hillary.

Students keen to see the butler in action will have to move quickly as tickets for the production go on sale this Monday and are expected to sell out.

Those who miss out on a ticket will have to make do with hoping to catch a sight of Geoffrey around town, hopefully riding in a cab with dice in the mirror or shooting some b-ball with Will and Jazzy Jeff.