Sir Ian McKellen at a curtain call for Player Kings
Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images
Sir Ian McKellen has said he is “looking forward to returning to work” and is “hugely indebted” to NHS staff who treated him following a fall from the stage at the Noel Coward Theatre in London on Monday.
A spokesman said the 85-year-old Lord of The Rings actor,who is playing John Falstaff in a production of Player Kings,was recovering well but would not be back to performing as soon as initially hoped.
An update suggested Sir Ian was expected to appear in Wednesday’s matinee performance,but producers decided to cancel that on Tuesday afternoon “so that Ian can rest”.
In a statement on Tuesday evening,the actor said he is “hugely indebted” to the medical staff who have assured him his recovery will be “complete and speedy”.
“I want to thank everyone for their kind messages and support,” Sir Ian said in the statement posted to X,formerly Twitter.
“Since the accident,during a performance of Player Kings last night,my injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts,specialists and nurses working for the National Health Service.
“To them,of course,I am hugely indebted.
“They have assured me that my recovery will be complete and speedy and I am looking forward to returning to work.”
A theatre spokesman said the actor 'will make a speedy and full recovery'
Credit: Jacob Freedland/PA
Shortly after Sir Ian lost his footing and fell from the stage,a theatre spokesman said the actor was “in good spirits” and “will make a speedy and full recovery”.
The statement also thanked doctors Rachel and Lee,who were “on hand in the audience”,and the venue staff “for their support”.
After the accident,audience members took to social media to express their concern for Sir Ian. “Just witnessed an awful accident with Sir Ian McKellen tripping off the stage in London. He seems badly hurt. We are all in shock and tears,” one wrote on X,formerly Twitter.
Charlie Johnson,a journalist who was in the audience too,told ITV: “The way the stage works at the Noel Coward is there’s sort of a step down just as the stage meets the audience. I think what happened was he put his foot too far,sort of went off that initial step,at which point he lost his balance and pretty much just went head first into the audience.”
The audience was evacuated from the premises as Sir Ian was taken to hospital,where he was given a scan.
Player Kings,a production of Henry IV,parts one and two,adapted and directed by Robert Icke,is set to move to the Bristol Hippodrome in July and will also be staged in Birmingham,Norwich and Newcastle.
A spokesperson for the Noel Coward Theatre said that Sir Ian is “recovering well” and that they look forward to him returning to the production “as soon as he is ready.”
In a statement,they said: “The performance on Wednesday 19 June will be cancelled following Ian McKellen’s fall during the performance of Player Kings on Monday (17 June).
“Bookers for the affected performance will be contacted by their point of purchase directly.
“We look forward to welcoming audiences back to the Noel Coward Theatre on Thursday 19 June. We are delighted that Ian is recovering well,and look forward to him returning to the production as soon as he is ready.
“We will keep audiences updated regarding remaining performances this week.”
