Ian McKellen will not return for a final three Players Kings performances in London’s West End after falling off the theatrical stage on June 17.
The Noel Coward Theatre in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, said David Semark would take the role of Sir John Falstaff for the last scheduled performances in London while McKellen “recuperates following his fall.”
“We look forward to Ian returning to the production, which begins a national tour in Bristol on Wednesday July 3, before visiting Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle,” the statement added, as McKellen is set to return for the national tour after what is expected to be a full recovery.
McKellen, 85, was performing as Falstaff in a production of Henry IV, Parts One and Two, which began a 12-week run as part of a show titled Player Kings in London’s West End in April when he lost his footing and fell during a fight scene. The June 17 show was eventually cancelled and the crowd evacuated from the theater.
In an earlier June 18 statement on X, McKellen thanked his fans for their support while receiving medical care. “I want to thank everyone for their kind messages and support. 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, a classic Shakespearean actor in the U.K., gained a new following when taking on movie roles like the gray-bearded wizard Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise.
