When it was revealed that production of King Lear had been cancelled in Wales at the weekend as a result of Sir Derek Jacobi’s sore throat, the folks at Belfast’s Grand Opera House grew concerned.

Not to fear: The show at GOP, running Tuesday to Saturday, will go ahead as schedule, with Jacobi at the helm.

“The Grand Opera House is delighted to confirm that this week’s sell-out performances of King Lear, starring Derek Jacobi, will proceed as scheduled,” representatives said in a statement to BBC.

“The production team arrived this morning, and the curtain will go up to a full house on Tuesday at 7.30pm as planned.”

Jacobi, knighted in 1994, has enjoyed a highly successful stage career. He received a Tony Award for his performance in Much Ado About Nothing and an Emmy for mocking his Shakespearean performances in Frasier. His stage work also includes playing notable historical figures such as Edward II, Octavius Caesar, Richard III of England, and Cyrano de Bergerac.

Gina McKee will play King Lear’s daughter Goneril in the production.