Sir Ian McKellen Returns to Newcastle Theatre Royal in Player Kings
Once heralded as his favourite theatre - Sir Ian McKellen returns this summer with a run of four stunning performances (Wednesday 24th-Saturday 27th July 2024) to round off its limited UK tour
A divided country, leadership crumbling, corruption in the air. Welcome to England.
Hal wasn't born to be king. Only now, it seems, he will be. His father longs for him to leave behind his friends in the taverns of Eastcheap, most notably the infamous John Falstaff. War is on the horizon. But will Hal ever come good?
Ian McKellen, 'one of the world's greatest actors' (according to The Times), plays Falstaff in this new version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, adapted by the award-winning writer and director Robert Icke, and says ‘Player Kings is a version of Shakespeare’s most English plays. So I am glad we are bringing our production across the country which they celebrate.’
Bringing together Shakespeare's plays Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, Player Kings is currently reigning over London’s West End, before touring the country and closing the run of performances at Newcastle Theatre Royal in July.
Ian McKellen’s career has stretched over seven-decades, with roles ranging from Gandalf in the much-loved Lord of the Rings film franchise, to an array of credits with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
His first performance at the famous Grey Street venue was in 1968, whilst starring as the title character in another of Shakespeare’s plays, Richard II, and Sir Ian McKellen has since visited Newcastle Theatre Royal numerous times, most recently starring opposite Sir Patrick Stewart in Harold Pinter's No Man’s Land in 2016, as well as whilst celebrating his 80th birthday by sharing his life story in a solo show in 2019.
The cast of Player Kings is completed by Raphael Akuwudike (Prince John), Sara Beharrell (Snare/Davy), Samuel Edward-Cook (Hotspur/Pistol), Geoffrey Freshwater (Bardolph), James Garnon (Worcester/Justice Silence), Alice Hayes (Messenger), Henry Jenkinson (Harcourt), Nigel Lister (Northumberland/Francis) Annette McLaughlin (Warwick), Mark Monero (Peto), Hywel Morgan (Sir Walter Blunt), Joseph Mydell (Lord Chief Justice), Clare Perkins (Mistress Quickly), Daniel Rabin (Poins), David Semark (Sir Richard Vernon), David Shelley (Sheriff), Robin Soans (Justice Shallow), Tafline Steen (Doll Tearsheet/Lady Percy) and Perry Williams (Douglas/Prince Thomas).
