Ian McKellen exits the Player Kings tour following fall from stage

The producers of Player Kings have announced that Sir Ian McKellen will not now complete the short UK tour of the show, following its West End run.

Ian McKellen, 85, fell off the stage of the Noel Coward Theatre in London’s West End whilst playing Sir John Falstaff during a performance of Player Kings on 17 June 2024.

The actor lost his footing on some stage debris following a fight scene in the play, and fell off the stage. He was subsequently taken to hospital by paramedics, and the audience were then evacuated from the theatre. A number of London performances were then cancelled, and Sir Ian didn’t return to the London production.

The producers have issued a statement today saying:

Following lan McKellen’s injury during the West End run of Player Kings, his doctors’ advice is to take time off from work in order to fully recover. As such, he will not be returning to play Sir John Falstaff in the national tour of Player Kings (3 – 27 July 2024). lan continues to recuperate very well, but he needs the time to rest and ensure a complete recovery. We continue to send him our best wishes. As it was for the final West End performances, the role of Falstaff will now be performed by David Semark, lan’s brilliant understudy, for all tour dates of Player Kings.

Sir lan McKellen said in a statement:

“Two weeks after my accident onstage, my injuries improve day by day. It’s with the greatest reluctance that I have accepted the medical advice to protect my full recovery by not working in the meantime. I had been so looking forward to bringing Player Kings to theatre-goers in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle. But I can assure them that, with David Semark now playing Falstaff, Robert Icke’s production and his acting company remain as dazzling as ever. Go see for yourself!”

The show is touring the UK in July, playing the Bristol Hippodrome from 3 to 6 July 2024, the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre from 10 to 13 July 2024, the Norwich Theatre Royal from 17 to 20 July 2024, and the Newcastle Theatre Royal from 24 to 27 July 2024.

On the day of the injury, the producers of the show said that: “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 canceled the scheduled Tuesday performance for McKellen to rest, and noted those affected would be contacted as soon as possible. Thank you to doctors Rachel and Lee who were on hand in the audience and to all the venue staff for their support.”

Icke has adapted and directed this new version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, which also stars Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Romeo and Juliet) as Hal, and Richard Coyle (Ink, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) as King Henry IV.

The Player Kings cast also includes Raphael Akuwudike (Prince John/Second Drawer), Sara Beharrell (Hotspur’s Servant/Snare/Davy), Samuel Edward-Cook (Hotspur/Pistol), Geoffrey Freshwater (Bardolph), James Garnon (Worcester/Silence), Alice Hayes (Messenger/Carrier), 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 (Vernon), David Shelley (Sheriff/Surrey), Robin Soans (Shallow), Tafline Steen (Tearsheet/Lady Percy) and Perry Williams (Page/Douglas/Thomas).

The creative team for the production also includes Set and Costume Designer Hildegard Bechtler; Lighting Designer Lee Curran; Sound Designer Gareth Fry; Casting Director Julia Horan CDG; Fight Director Kev McCurdy; Associate Costume Designer Johanna Coe; Hair and Make-up Designer Susanna Peretz; and Associate Directors Jack Bradfield and Lizzie Manwaring.

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Main photo: Player Kings - Ian McKellen as Falstaff. Photo by Manuel Harlan