McKellen tells of his pride at role in Steel City
SIR IAN McKellen has spoken about how regional theatre launched his career as he prepares to embark on an 80date tour of the United Kingdom.
The actor will celebrate turning 80 in May next year with a tour of theatres in major cities like Liverpool and Manchester as well as lesser known spaces in Orkney and Lyme Regis.
Profits and his wage from his show, Ian McKellen On Stage, will go to the theatres visited, with the actor suggesting that each space spend the money on whatever it needs, “whether it’s painting the dressing rooms or putting in new seats or supporting youth groups”.
The 79-year-old star, who was born in Bolton, Greater I shall always be proud that I was in the first play ever at the Crucible. Sir Ian McKellen on regional theatres as he prepares for his 80th birthday tour Manchester, stressed the importance of local theatre companies, saying “the more theatre there is up and down the country, on tour or locally, the happier people will be”.
He also spoke about theatres on the tour which had special meaning to him, including the Sheffield Crucible, which he will visit on May 30 and June 3.
Sir Ian said: “I shall always be proud that, with Edward Petherbridge, I was in the first play ever at the Crucible in 1971. Chekhov’s Swansong was part of the concert which opened the now iconic open stage.
“I’ve since presented a previous solo show here and was most recently in Sheffield at the Lyceum, with Patrick Stewart in Pinter’s No Man’s Land.”