Special Start to Ian McKellen on Stage Performances in Stratford and Palmerston North
Wednesday 9 May 2012, 5:04PM
By Sally Woodfield PR
455 views
“This is a rare opportunity, not to be missed.” – Theatreview
“The Englishman's relaxed and charming story-telling during a question and answer session that followed proved a real treat for the audience.” – Taranaki Daily News
“With a sparkle in his eyes and a mischievous grin, he greeted us like friends he knew well, and for a few hours we were part of something magical.” – Look To The Stars
Sold out shows in Stratford and Palmerston North made a fantastic start for the 11-centre tour of Ian McKellen on Stage – a new show created and performed by Lord of the Rings’ star Ian McKellen to raise funds to restore Christchurch’s earthquake-damaged Isaac Theatre Royal.
“There’s plenty of Shakespeare in the second half, so I wanted to open the tour in Stratford-on-Patea.” Sir Ian said. Before the premiere, he wandered the streets of Stratford, 67 of which are named after Shakespeare’s characters.
“I noticed a street named Regan St. Now Regan is King Lear’s terrible daughter – a psychopathic torturer. Not sure I’d like to live on her street,” he told the Stratford audience later. In the front row at the performance was 92-year-old Ida Gaskin, winner of Mastermind – her special subject, William Shakespeare.
Sir Ian is back in New Zealand reprising his Oscar-nominated Gandalf in The Hobbit films and is spending his weekends in May and June touring New Zealand performing Ian McKellen on Stage – a show which will be different for every performance depending on the audience. At Palmerston North’s Sunday matinee, seven-year-old Lucca ran from the back row of the Centrepoint Theatre, for a chance to hold Glamdring, Gandalf’s sword from the movies. Lucca then stylishly acted killing Gandalf!
As well as the ticket income, more than $3000 was donated at last weekend’s two shows through programme purchase and Sir Ian’s bucket collection.
Ian McKellen on Stage is a new show, devised in part by the audience. In this unique fundraiser supported by ASB Bank, audience members are invited to ask question about Sir Ian's work and life, as he retraces his journey from the north of England to the West End of London, to Broadway, Hollywood and to Middle Earth.
There’s chat, reminiscence, gossip and performances from his Shakespeare and Tolkien repertoire – with a song maybe, and a chance to act with him onstage!
Ian McKellen on Stage heads to Hamilton on Saturday 12 May and Tauranga on Sunday 13 May, before the first South Island performances in Nelson on Sunday 20 May, then performances in Auckland and Christchurch, followed by Wanaka, Hastings, Wellington and Carterton.
ASB Bank is supporting the New Zealand wide shows so that all income goes directly to fund the repair Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal – which was badly damaged in the series of 2011 earthquakes.
“The last time I was on stage in New Zealand was at the Isaac Theatre Royal in Waiting for Godot,” Sir Ian says. “I love this beautiful old theatre and want to help restore it as soon as possible.”
Sir Ian is at home on any stage, whether for the UK National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company or on tour worldwide in plays ancient and modern.
Since The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the X-Men movies, he has played in Strindberg, Beckett, Chekhov, Shakespeare, Mark Ravenhill, Eduardo De Filippo – and as Widow Twankey in the pantomime Aladdin. In New Zealand he has toured as King Lear and as Gogo in Waiting for Godot. On television he was most recently seen achieving his ambition to act in Coronation Street.
Booking details for Ian McKellen on Stage can be found at www.mckellen.com
Reviews from the Stratford and Palmerston North shows can be read here:
Palmerston North: Theatreview Look To The Stars
Ian McKellen on Stage - Schedule
Saturday 5 May 7.30pm: Kings Theatre, Stratford | Book by phoning 0800 765 670 or 06 765-6708 or by emailing info@stratford.govt.nz | SOLD OUT
Sunday 6 May 1.00pm: Centrepoint, Palmerston North | Book at Centrepoint 06 354 5740 or www.centrepoint.co.nz | SOLD OUT
Saturday 12 May 7.30pm: Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz
Sunday 13 May 2.00pm: Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga | Book at TicketDirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
Sunday 20 May 2.00pm & 7.30pm: Theatre Royal, Nelson | Book by phoning (03) 548 3840 option 2 or www.theatreroyalnelson.co.nz
Saturday 26 May 8.00pm: Q, Auckland | Book at Q 09 309 9771 or www.qtheatre.co.nz | SOLD OUT
Sunday 27 May 2.00pm: Q, Auckland | Book at Q 09 309 9771 or www.qtheatre.co.nz | SOLD OUT
Saturday 2 June 7.30pm: Aurora Centre, Christchurch | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz | SOLD OUT
Sunday 3 June 2.00pm: Court Theatre at Addington, Christchurch | Book by phoning (03) 963 0870 or www.courttheatre.org.nz | SOLD OUT
Saturday 9 June 7.30pm: Lake Wanaka Centre | Book by phoning 03 443 4172 or www.festivalofcolour.co.nz | SOLD OUT
Sunday 10 June 2.00pm: Lake Wanaka Centre | Book by phoning 03 443 4172 or www.festivalofcolour.co.nz
Saturday 16 June 7.30pm: Hawkes Bay Opera House, Hastings | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz
Saturday 23 June 7.30pm: Opera House, Wellington | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz
Sunday 24 June 2.00pm: Events Centre, Carterton | Book at Dash Tickets 06 379 4082 or www.dashtickets.co.nz | SOLD OUT
The Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
The 104-year old, ‘Grand Old Lady’ of Christchurch theatre survived the massive February 22 2011 earthquake and subsequent considerable aftershocks. Although insured for the majority of reinstatement works caused by earthquake damage, policy excess and some very necessary heritage restoration and improvement works must be paid for by the Theatre Royal Charitable Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, who are now embarking on a challenging fund raising campaign to cover the additional costs of potentially $6 million. www.isaactheatreroyal.co.nz