Next year, everyone’s favourite wizard will be raising funds for theatre with a one-man show that will be hitting a theatre near you! Ian McKellen will be celebrating his 80th year with a brand new show, Ian McKellen On Stage, that he’ll tour around the UK.
The tour will start in London from January 2019. He’ll be visiting the National Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East, some West End and outer London theatres before travelling across the country visiting small and large venues with which he has a personal connection to. Among the list will be amateur groups he knew as a child and notable playhouses he has played in as a professional actor over the last half-century.
The show promises to be a deep-dive into Ian’s career with anecdotes, acting, Shakespeare, and even some Tolkien. Plus, there may even be an opportunity for you, the audience, to participate.
About the show, Ian said: “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… 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 National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Prospect Theatre, the Actors’ Company, as well as with commercial productions. Sean Mathias, the director and I have worked together for stage and screen, many happy times.”
Accessibly priced tickets will be available at each of the venues and all profits made will benefit specific causes at each theatre.
To find out more and to book tickets, visit ianonstage.co.uk.