June 17th 2024.
Sir Ian McKellen, the legendary actor, was taken to the hospital after a scary fall during his performance as John Falstaff in Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London. It was a dramatic moment as the 85-year-old stumbled during a fight scene with the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy, causing him to fall off the stage.
The incident happened during an intense battle sequence and the house lights came up immediately after McKellen lost his footing and cried out in pain. The theatre staff and medical personnel quickly attended to the actor, and the audience was evacuated, with the evening show being cancelled. As of now, there is no update on the extent of Sir Ian's injuries.
Zack McCann, who was in the audience, described the scene as "pretty awful" and shared that during the fight, McKellen tripped and fell into the first row. The cast rushed to his aid as the lights came up and the employees of the theatre acted swiftly by evacuating the theatre and informing the audience about the ambulance and the cancellation of the show. McCann added that although he couldn't see the details of McKellen's injuries, he could hear him crying out in pain.
Eyewitnesses also reported that the employees and other cast members quickly rushed to the actor's aid. When asked about the audience's reaction, McCann said that no one was upset about the cancellation and everyone was concerned about Sir Ian's well-being. He described the atmosphere as "very somber and full of concern."
Several audience members took to social media to share their experience of the harrowing moment. One user, @iamnotshouting, wrote, "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." Others, such as @paulnero1 and @CEJohnson99, also expressed their shock and concern for the actor.
Player Kings, a production of Henry IV, Parts One and Two, began its 12-week run in the West End in April, with McKellen's portrayal of Falstaff being highly anticipated. McKellen had previously shared that playing this role was a long-held dream of his. The show was set to tour the country, with stops in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich, and Newcastle in the coming months.
McKellen said, "The play itself has so many settings across England...so it only makes sense that we take this show all around, giving the opportunity to as many people as possible to see it." Metro has reached out to Sir Ian McKellen's representatives and The London Ambulance Service for comment. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures to share, please get in touch with our entertainment team.
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