Sir Ian McKellen continues his charitable work with the announcement that the beanie hat he wears in Hamlet at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival will be auctioned after each performance with proceeds going to support a bursary fund at Edinburgh Festival Ballet School. The bursar will bear his name and is to support future young dance students.
Director and choreographer Peter Schaufuss said: “This is an incredible generous legacy gift from Ian to the youngsters of Scotland. Long after the Fringe has ended, his generosity with ensure that young up and coming dancers will benefit for years to come.
We are also thrilled that Ian has agreed to meet the public and answer questions about his incredible career over seven decades at eight Q & A events following performances of ‘Hamlet’. The Q & A events will take place on August 3, 4, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24 at ‘The Hamlet After Party’ in the Lower Hall, Saint Stephens, 105 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 5AB.
‘The Hamlet After Party’ is a cabaret-style show with the famous musical entertainer Richard Lewis and cast members from the ‘Hamlet’ company. During each aftershow event, Ian’s Hamlet beanie hat worn at that day’s performance will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.”
Ian McKellen returns to Edinburgh Fringe with a new production of Hamlet where he shares the title role with lead dancer Johan Christiansen. Ian will be performing Hamlet’s famous speeches, soliloquies and more and will be on stage throughout the 75-minute production.
McKellen says: “At a crucial moment in ‘Hamlet’, Shakespeare describes in detail a dance, performed by the actors touring through Elsinore. Hamlet says: ‘What a piece of work is a man… how infinite in faculties, in form and moving, how express and admirable in action.’ The same could be said of Peter Schaufuss and his company of wonderful dancers. It’s inspiring to watch them and work with them.”
Also performing at every performance will be Luke Schaufuss, Stefan Wise and artists from the Edinburgh Festival Ballet.
This production of ‘Hamlet’ will launch the 400-seat Ashton Hall at Saint Stephens Edinburgh, a new performance venue in the Scottish capital named after the famous choreographer, the late Sir Frederick Ashton
Edinburgh Festival Ballet School started in September 2019. Founded by internationally-renowned dancer and director Peter Schaufuss, the school provides world-class training for those looking to pursue a professional career in dance.
Tickets are on sale.
Hamlet runs from 2 August -28 August 2022 at Ashton Hall, Saint Stephens, Edinburgh.
