Ian McKellen Celebrates 80th Birthday With 80-Venue Tour, Launching January 25 | Playbill

International News Ian McKellen Celebrates 80th Birthday With 80-Venue Tour, Launching January 25 The new solo show raises funds for theatres throughout the U.K.

International stage and screen star Ian McKellen, most recently on Broadway in the 2013 revivals of Waiting for Godot and No Man's Land, is celebrating his 80th birthday (May 25) with a new solo show that will play 80 stages throughout the U.K.

The tour kicks off January 25 at London's The Space and will continue through September 15 in the National Theatre’s Olivier. In between, McKellen—who is the subject of the recent documentary film McKellen: Playing The Part—will visit theatres large and small, many that hold personal connections, including amateur groups he knew as a child and notable playhouses he has played in as a professional actor over the last half-century.

Read: HOW IAN MCKELLEN’S DECISION TO LIVE AN AUTHENTIC LIFE BECAME THE BRIDGE FROM MACBETH TO MAGNETO

Accessibly priced tickets are available everywhere. All profits benefit specific causes at each theatre.

Ian McKellen On Stage is a mixture of anecdotes and acting, including pieces from Tolkien to Shakespeare.

SEE WHAT ELSE IS SCHEDULED TO PERFORM IN LONDON

In an earlier statement, McKellen said, “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 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.”

For ticket information and tour route visit ianonstage.co.uk.

PHOTO SPECIAL: Sirs Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen Hit the Town

(Updated January 25, 2019)

 
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