Ian McKellen won’t now return to play in the remaining performances of Player Kings following a recent accident that saw him fall from the stage during a show.
The veteran Lord Of The Rings actor was performing at the Noël Coward Theatre on June 17 when he fell from the stage, reportedly breaking his wrist and sustaining other injuries.
McKellen was originally expected to return for last month’s performance on June 19, after a hopeful update on his recovery was shared.
However, it was later announced that the 85-year-old actor will not perform the remaining three London shows.
There was hope he would return to the play when it moves to Bristol on July 3 and for other subsequent national performances, but in a statement yesterday evening (July 1) the actor revealed he would be taking time away “with the greatest reluctance” to “protect my full recovery”.
McKellen said: “Two weeks after my accident onstage, my injuries improve day by day. It’s with the greatest reluctance that I have accepted the medical advice to protect my full recovery by not working in the meantime.
“I had been so looking forward to bringing Player Kings to theatregoers in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle. But I can assure them that, with David Semark now playing Falstaff, Robert Icke’s production and his acting company remain as dazzling as ever. Go see for yourself.”
The production team added: “Following Ian McKellen’s injury during the West End run of Player Kings, his doctors’ advice is to take time off from work in order to fully recover. As such, he will not be returning to play Sir John Falstaff in the national tour of Players Kings (3-27 July 2024).
“Ian continues to recuperate very well, but he needs the time to rest and ensure a complete recovery. We continue to send him our best wishes. As it was for the final West End performances, the role of Falstaff will now be performed by David Semark, Ian’s brilliant understudy, for all tour dates of Player Kings.”
Following the initial incident, McKellen made a statement thanking fans for “their kind messages and support”. He added: “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.”
The play, which started its 12-week West End run in April, is an adaptation by Robert Icke, merging together William Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2.
When the play began, McKellen told the BBC that he was “intrigued and eventually persuaded” by Icke, and was “finally playing the role he always said no to”.