Robert Icke: Last News

Ellise Shafer Ian McKellen will not return to the national tour of “Players Kings” after an on-stage fall two weeks ago led him to be hospitalized. The actor had previously announced that he would not be finishing the play’s West End shows, but was expected to make a return to the production for its tour of Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle. But the official X account of “Players Kings” shared the news on Monday that McKellen will need more time to recover.

Oedipus, Robert Icke‘s West End hit reimagining of the Sophocles tragedy starring Mark Strong and Lesley Manville, will transfer to Broadway this fall for a 14-week engagement as part of the Roundabout Theatre Company‘s 2025-2026 season.

Sir Ian McKellen has shared the frightening details of his stage accident during a performance in London's West End. The 85 year old sustained a broken wrist and chipped vertebra after falling from the stage in June.

Sir Ian McKellen has expressed his deep regret at having to follow medical advice and pull out from the national tour of Player Kings due to a recent injury, stating it's with "the greatest reluctance" he does so to ensure he fully recovers. The esteemed actor, 85, suffered a horror fall during a performance at the Noel Coward Theatre after he lost his footing in a fight scene.This led to the cancellation of two shows and hospital treatment for Sir Ian.

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”.A post shared by Player Kings (@playerkingsplay)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.

Sir Ian McKellen has shared that he's undergoing physiotherapy after a fall from a West End stage on Monday, causing him to take a break from his current performance.The final London shows of the production, Player Kings, will see Sir Ian's stand-in stepping into the role of Falstaff while the seasoned actor recovers from the mishap. His publicist Clair Dobbs relayed a statement to the PA news agency on his behalf: "After three nights in hospital, the effects of my fall onstage have been fully analysed and I'm now having physiotherapy, light exercise and a lot of essential rest at home." "Meanwhile, my part in Player Kings is filled by the redoubtable David Semark supported by Robert Icke's amazing production and cast." "The many messages of love and support will, I am sure, aid the speedy recovery that my doctors have promised me." The 85 year old screen and stage actor was rushed to hospital on June 17 for treatment after he lost his balance during a fight scene and fell off the stage.The rest of the night's show was cancelled following the incident.

Sir Ian McKellen will not return for the remaining West End performances of Player Kings after he fell from the stage earlier this week.The veteran 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.According to the play’s production team, McKellen was originally expected to return for yesterday evening’s performance (June 19), after providing a hopeful update on his recovery.However, it has now been announced that the 85-year-old actor will not perform the remaining three London shows, but will hopefully return to the play when it moves to Bristol on July 3.In a post made to the play’s X account, the production team wrote: “We look forward to Ian returning to the production, which begins a national tour in Bristol on Wednesday 3 July, before visiting Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle.”According to the BBC, McKellen has said that he is having “physiotherapy, light exercise and a lot of essential rest at home”. The actor reportedly spent three nights in hospital.McKellen’s role, Sir John Falstaff, will be played by understudy David Semark for the remaining London shows.Following the incident, the Lord Of The Rings actor made a statement thanking fans for “their kind messages and support”.

Twitter, saying she felt a “weight come off” once she deleted it. The Bafta-nominated British star, known for roles in films such as Truly, Madly, Deeply and Bend It Like Beckham, explained she is still on Instagram, but does not use Twitter any more.

Stephen Joseph theatre, Scarborough, 2 September-1 October. At the National Theatre in 2019, Inua Ellams adapted Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters, transposing its drama to the Biafran war with virtuosity. Now he turns to Sophoclean tragedy with this play in the Theban cycle about rebel children, tyrant kings and divine interventions.