Legendary actor was rushed to hospital after a dramatic fall during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in .
The 85-year-old reportedly stumbled during an intense fight scene, causing him to fall off the stage.
According to an update from a representative for the theatre, the actor is expected to make a full and speedy recovery and is not badly injured.
The incident occurred during a battle sequence between his character, John Falstaff, and the Prince of and Henry Percy.
After McKellen lost his footing and tumbled from the stage, the house lights quickly came up, and he was heard crying out in pain.
Theatre staff and medical personnel promptly attended to the actor.
Following the accident, the audience was evacuated and informed that the evening show was cancelled and there tickets would be refunded.
An update from a representative for Player Kings sent Metro.co.uk the following statement: ‘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.
‘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 has made the decision to cancel the performance on Tuesday 18 June so Ian can rest. Those affected will be contacted by their point of purchase as soon as possible tomorrow.
‘Thank you to doctors Rachel and Lee who were on hand in the audience and to all the venue staff for their support.’
Zack McCann, who was in the audience during the show, told Metro.co.uk of the incident: ‘It was pretty awful to see! Close to the end of Act One there is a fight scene between Prince Hal and Hotspur and Falstaff (Sir Ian’s character) came onstage.
‘During the fight Sir Ian looked to have tripped and fell into the first row. As he called out for help, the cast came to help him and the lights came up.’
He continued by saying that the employees of the theatre were quick to take action: ‘The staff at the Noel Coward Theatre were wonderful and lept into action to attend to him, evacuated the theatre and made sure to let us know quickly that they were waiting on an ambulance and would be canceling the remainder of the show.’
McCann continued that while he wasn’t close enough to see the specifics of the injuries McKellen sustained, he was ‘definitely crying out in pain.’
When asked about the energy in the audience as the theatre goers filed out, McCann emphasised that no one was resentful about the cancellation, only concerned for the actor’s well being, saying that everyone seemed, ‘Very somber and full of concern. No one was upset at the cancellation and the only questions were about his condition.’
Several of the audience members who witnessed the event took to social media to share their experience of the harrowing moment.
One X user @iamnotshouting, who was seemingly at the performance, 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.’
User @paulnero1 wrote: ‘Audience shocked by Sir Ian McKellen’s fall off stage tonight at Noel Coward Theatre. Staff working hard to help him. Thoughts with him, cast and crew. #playerkings’
User @CEJohnson99 posted: ‘Just witnessed Ian Mckellan severely injure himself after falling off stage at Noel Coward Theatre. Sir Ian could be heard screaming in pain as ushers rushed to his aid. Show cancelled as he is treated by ambulance crews. Wish him all the best. #playerkings #ianmckellan’
Player Kings, a production encompassing Henry IV, Parts One and Two, began its 12-week West End run in April.
The show has been highly anticipated, drawing large crowds eager to see McKellen’s portrayal of the iconic Shakespearean character.
Playing the role of Falstaff has been a long held dream of McKellen’s, and he told the BBC earlier this year: ‘Actors who have taken on the role say it is verbally very challenging – it seems that the role was written for a particular actor and comedian in Shakespeare’s time, so it’s a bit like being given a script for Michael McIntyre.’
The show was due to move from the West End to Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle in coming months.
McKellen said: ‘The play itself has so many settings across England, from the taverns of the East End to the rural peaceful countryside of Gloucestershire and 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.
