Ian McKellen Withdraws from Player Kings National Tour following Stage Fall; David Semark to Continue as Falstaff stand-in
Sir Ian McKellen has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the U.K. tour of his Shakespearean theater production after a fall during a performance in London last month.
The 85-year-old actor was playing John Falstaff in Henry IV, Parts One and Two at the Noël Coward Theater when he fell off the stage during a fight scene. Audience members helped him off the stage, and the show was canceled.
In a statement released on July 1, McKellen announced that he will not be returning to the stage anytime soon to allow for his full recovery. While he had been looking forward to performing in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich, and Newcastle, he will not be able to do so. David Semark will be filling in for him during his time off.
McKellen’s Shakespearean career includes roles such as Richard II, Coriolanus, and Macbeth. He is also set to star as Hamlet in a film directed by Sean Mathias. Despite his injury, this is not the first time McKellen has had to cancel a show due to an accident.
Semark, his replacement in Player Kings, is a trained actor who has appeared on popular TV shows. Fans of McKellen can still enjoy his work on screen, including his roles in The Lord of the Rings and X-Men franchises.
The 85-year-old actor was playing John Falstaff in Henry IV, Parts One and Two at the Noël Coward Theater when he fell off the stage during a fight scene. Audience members helped him off the stage, and the show was canceled.
In a statement released on July 1, McKellen announced that he will not be returning to the stage anytime soon to allow for his full recovery. While he had been looking forward to performing in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich, and Newcastle, he will not be able to do so. David Semark will be filling in for him during his time off.
McKellen’s Shakespearean career includes roles such as Richard II, Coriolanus, and Macbeth. He is also set to star as Hamlet in a film directed by Sean Mathias. Despite his injury, this is not the first time McKellen has had to cancel a show due to an accident.
Semark, his replacement in Player Kings, is a trained actor who has appeared on popular TV shows. Fans of McKellen can still enjoy his work on screen, including his roles in The Lord of the Rings and X-Men franchises.