Earlier this month, while the 85-year-old actor was playing Player Kings at the Noel Coward theater, he collapsed into the audience.
The show was scheduled to travel until July 27. However, Sir Ian has stated that he is withdrawing from it with “greatest reluctance” in order to “protect my recovery”.
Sir Ian had said shortly after his fall that, in order to give himself time to recover, he would not be coming back for the show’s remaining London appearances.
“After Ian McKellen’s injury during the West End run of Player Kings, his doctors’ advice is to take” was stated in a statement from the production.
As a result, he will not be reprising his role as Sir John Falstaff for Players Kings’ national tour, which runs from July 3–27, 2024.
Lan is still doing rather nicely, but he needs more time to recuperate fully. We’re still sending our warmest regards to him.
For all Player Kings tour dates, Ian’s outstanding understudy David Semark will play Falstaff, much as he did for the last West End productions.
