Ian McKellen has thanked fans and the medical professionals who offered support following his fall during Monday evening’s performance of “Player Kings” at the Noël Coward theatre in London.
“I want to thank everyone for their kind messages and support,” McKellen said via a statement sent by his publicist, Clair Dobbs. “Since the accident, during a performance of Player Kings last night, 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.”
McKellen, who plays John Falstaff in “Player Kings” on the West End, was reportedly in a battle scene when he lost his footing and fell off the front of the stage. Per the BBC, “As the house lights came up, the actor cried out and staff rushed to help.” The audience was evacuated from the theater and the evening show was canceled.
After McKellen was hospitalized, a representative for the theater shared a statement that the 85-year-old actor would “make a speedy and full recovery.”
“Thank you to our audience and the general public for their well wishes following Ian’s fall during this evening’s performance of ‘Player Kings,’” the statement reads. “Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian is in good spirits.”
The production also canceled the performance scheduled for Tuesday, June 18, so McKellen could rest.
“Thank you to doctors Rachel and Lee who were on hand in the audience and to all the venue staff for their support,” the statement concluded.
“Player Kings,” which is a production of William Shakespeare’s “Henry IV, Parts One and Two,” started its 12-week run on the West End in April.
McKellen is a frequent Shakespeare actor, with stage roles including Macbeth, King Lear, Richard II, Coriolanus, Iago and Richard III.
From Variety US