After completing an extensive national tour in over 80 venues next August, the production will open at the Harold Pinter Theatre in late September for a limited run. Directed by Sean Mathias, the play explores Tolkien, Shakespeare and other authors (and also the audience!), with all of its profits to be given to charity.
Sometimes it takes a lavish, spectacular production to drag people to the theatre. Some other times, it only takes the name of one of the best actors in History to make that magic happen. Both are great ways, but the latter is clearly rarer – because not every time you have the chance to see Ian McKellen star in his own show, going through his entire career and celebrating his 80th birthday. Described as the Telegraph as “the theatre event of the year”, the show will open in London in late September, for a limited run for which tickets can be purchased from today on.
Directed by Sean Mathias, the production arrives to UK’s capital city after an extensive tour throughout the nation – being played in more than 80 venues with every performance sold-out. Presented by the Ambassador Theatre Group, McKellen will explore Tolkien, Shakespeare and other authors – and also you! Planned to transfer to the Harold Pinter Theatre, all of the profits wil be given to theatre charities, with the intention of raising 3 million pounds at the end of the run. So far, the tour has already collected £1million and will pass £2million when it ends in Orkney in August.
“Taking this new Show to 80+ theatres around the country, has been a joyful birthday present to myself”, says McKellen. “I’ve played mainly in theatres I knew well as a young theatregoer and actor. On my birthday, I was in Bolton Town Hall where my dad used to work. It began last February with 15 theatres in Greater London and will end in Orkney. Soon I will be back in London, for a limited season in the West End, raising much-needed funds for theatre charities. For each performance at the Harold Pinter Theatre, I’m glad that there will be 80 tickets at just £10. As for the Show? Ask someone who’s seen it. Come and find out.”
Ian Onstage will run from September 20th to January 5th, with performances from Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased from £10 at www.ianonstage.co.uk or www.atgtickets.com.
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