IAN McKELLEN ON STAGE

A message from Ian McKellen:

I’m celebrating my 80th birthday by touring a new solo show to theatres I know well and a few that I don’t. The show starts with Gandalf and will probably end with an invitation to act with me on stage. In-between there will be anecdotes and acting. I open at my local arts centre in January and end up by August in Orkney.

Live theatre has always been thrilling to me, as an actor and in the audience. Growing up in Lancashire, I was grateful to those companies who toured beyond London and I’ve always enjoyed repaying that debt by touring up and down the country myself, with the RSC, the National Theatre, Prospect Theatre, the Actors’ Company, as well as with commercial productions.

I was last at the Northcott as Marlowe’s Edward II in 1969 so this return with my new one man show 50 years on is an appropriate part of my tour celebrating my 80th birthday. I’m pleased that all profits will support young and emerging artists from Exeter and thereabouts. See you there, I hope!