Chloe Armstrong (L) plays Juliet and Julian Garner (R), Romeo in the Bell Shakespeare company production of Romeo and Juliet. (William West/AFP/Getty Images)
Artistic Director John Bell revealed the line-up in Sydney on Wednesday evening, saying he wanted a "blockbuster" to celebrate next year's 20th anniversary season, and King Lear was a fitting choice.
"It's one of the grand pieces. It's a really good way to celebrate a significant anniversary," Bell told AAP.
In a milestone year for Bell, who turns 70 in November, he will also star in Kear Lear, with associate artistic director Marion Potts to direct.
He will also take to the stage alongside Cate Blanchett in Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, in association with the Sydney Theatre Company.
The acclaimed theatre personality said he was looking forward to performing.
"I haven't been on stage for a long stretch for some time. Most of next year, I'll be performing every night which will be quite a weird experience, actually," Bell said.
Other works in the 2010 line-up are Andy Griffiths' Just Macbeth! and an anticipated production of Twelfth Night, inspired by the Victorian bushfire victims, which will tour regional areas as well as the cities.
"We like to try and relate the work to our audience, and (director) Lee Lewis, having seen those bushfires and the flooding up north and natural disasters - when those things happen we tend to get together and tell a story, try to find some healing process," Bell said.
"The idea is these are people who have lost everything but come together and through telling this story which is about loss and rediscovery, it might be meaningful to people in those areas, and in metropolitan areas."
Bell said he had no plans to slow down, revealing his pride in how far the company has come.
In the 20 years since it began with one private donation in 1990, Bell Shakespeare has played to more than two million Australians.
