Ian mckellen has said his king lear, which is currently on at chichester festival theatre, is probably his last big shakespeare part. Here is an odd acting problem why, if he is upset by clarences death, does richard allow himself to be so jolly up to this point in the scene. A 68 hour playlist of shakespeares plays being performed by great actors. Ian mckellen, alone on stage, with no props or scenery, performs monologues from shakespeare and discusses some of his plays. Apr 03, 2016 it is 400 years since shakespeare died and, as part of the festivities, ian mckellen is spearheading a selection of shakespearean films at the bfi in london that will tour 110 countries, including. Ian mckellen, who first made his reputation performing at the royal shakespeare company in the 1970s and 80s, has just released the first of a series of ipad apps meant to make shakespeare s plays more accessible, especially for high school and college students. He was costumed, he told the audience in filledtocapacity harmon hall, with a long. Heuristic shakespeare the tempest is the first of 37 new apps to help students better. Nov 10, 2009 for years, 70yearold ian mckellen was a highly respected actor who alternated between films and stage, which included lots of shakespeare. Sir ian mckellen on acting and auditions daily actor. Sep 27, 2017 the lord of the rings the return of the king 2003 ian mckellen interview duration. Mckellen talks about his career as a shakespearean actor and about shakespeares life and writing, interspersing his account with performances of well known speeches from the plays. Of course you cant be relaxed at an audition and so thats probably when you do your worst acting. He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe award, two academy award nominations, four bafta nominations and five emmy award nominations.
The official database for broadway theatre information. A renowned stage actor in his native britain for decades, mckellen was not familiar to most american audiences until the 90s, when he began popping up in a number of well. Lawrence otoole in new york times magazine, april 5, 1992. Ian mckellen to host london bus tours for shakespeare film.
May 14, 2016 ian mckellen seeks to demystify shakespeare with new app. A record of mckellens oneman broadway show about the bard. Ian mckellen has a serious passion for shakespeare, and he wants you to as well. In addition, a brie renowned shakespearean actor ian mckellen celebrates the worlds greatest playwright in a performance of anecdotes, personal reflection, and the bards verse. Sir ian mckellen talks shakespeare on screen into film. It is 400 years since shakespeare died and, as part of the festivities, ian mckellen is spearheading a selection of shakespearean films at the bfi in. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. Ian will launch shakespeare on film at shanghai international film festival on june. He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe award, a screen actors guild award, a bif award, two saturn awards, four drama desk awards, and two critics choice awards. Mckellen first performed the recital in scandinavia in 1980 and later performed it throughout the world. The program is presented in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the folger shakespeare library in washington, d.
Ian mckellens favourite shakespeare roles on film film. Ian mckellen performer devised especially for the cultural festival of gay games iv by ian mckellen. A knight in harmon hall a knight proves to be a true champion. Acting shakespeare revival, play, solo, broadway opened in new york city jan 19, 1984 and played through feb 19, 1984. I was a bit of an odd man out going into acting, but my mother had said, before she died when i was 12, that she wouldnt mind if i was an actor because she. Ian mckellen to host london bus tours for shakespeare film season. Shakespeare on film, as part of the british councils shakespeare lives a major programme of events and activities celebrating shakespeares work in the 400th anniversary year of his death.
British actor ian mckellen talks about his role in a production king learpart of a yearlong presentation of all of shakespeares plays, poems, and sonnets. They discuss their character, working through the play scene by scene, with. British actor ian mckellen in china for shakespeare on. Let me start with shakespeare the chorus of henry v, which seems to express to his contemporary audience the problems and the delights of how he wants to tell his stories. Ian mckellen gives a master class on acting shakespeare, 1982. Then just before turning 50, he came out on a bbc radio. Sir ian murray mckellen ch cbe born 25 may 1939 is an english actor. Ian mckellen reads a passionate speech by william shakespeare.
For the 1984 broadway engagement, mckellen received the drama desk award for outstanding oneperson show and a tony. Fiftysix years after his first appearance in a professional production of shakespeare, this. Ian mckellen discusses playing macbeth, in this ebook taken from shakespeare on stage. Tony awardwinner ian mckellen stars in the highlyacclaimed, oneman show ian mckellen acting shakespeare which will air for the first time on pbs.
Catharines college, cambridge, where as a student actor he was often directed by john barton, later of the royal shakespeare company. Worldrenowned actor ian mckellen will visit china for bfi presents. His career spans genres ranging from shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Ian mckellen, who first made his reputation performing at the royal shakespeare company in the 1970s and 80s, has just released the first of a series of ipad apps meant to make shakespeares plays more accessible, especially for high school and college students. Mckellen analyses a speech from the closing scenes of. Sir ian mckellen releases new apps to make shakespeares.
Its not yourself you offer to the world, but part of yourself. Ian mckellen seeks to demystify shakespeare with new app cnet. From 1989, sir ian mckellens one man shakespeare show. Speaking at an event on richard iii, bfi southbanks shakespeare on screen ambassador sir ian mckellen gave his insights into the journey. He then engages in a candid series of reflections about his relationship with theater, and speaks about some of the greatest plays ever written. Having tackled shakespeares works on stage and screen, ian mckellen will host bus tours of locations used in his movie adaptation of richard iii as part of a film program marking 400 years. Join sign up keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. Mckellens work spans genres ranging from shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Also known as aka 0 release dates usa 26 april 1982. Sir ian mckellen returned to his old school, the bolton school boys division, and passed on some acting tidbits to its current drama students. Oct 03, 2017 from 1989, sir ian mckellen s one man shakespeare show. Acting shakespeare jan 19, 1984 feb 19, 1984 starring.
Lawrence ian mckellen trying to write as his wife janet suzman distracts him janet, married to my university friend, trevor nunn, worked with him at the royal shakespeare company with distinction. Sir ian mckellen puts on a dazzling oneman shakespeare show. Thirteen leading actors on thirteen key roles in each volume of the shakespeare on stage series, a leading actor takes us behind the scenes, recreating in detail a memorable performance in one of shakespeares major roles. For the 1984 broadway engagement, mckellen received the drama desk award for outstanding oneperson show. His notable film roles include gandalf in the lord of. Search, discover and share your favorite ian mckellen gifs. May 23, 20 ian mckellen discusses playing macbeth, in this ebook taken from shakespeare on stage. Nigel hawthorne followed richard iii with more shakespeare playing malvolio in trevor nunns film of twelfth night. Jan 25, 2016 having tackled shakespeare s works on stage and screen, ian mckellen will host bus tours of locations used in his movie adaptation of richard iii as part of a film program marking 400 years.
Acting shakespeare is a oneman show of shakespearean monologues interspersed with theatrical anecdotes devised and performed by ian mckellen. You cant act unless you are totally relaxed, and by that i mean you havent a care in the world, he said. Acting shakespeare with ian mckellen british universities. In 2001, ian mckellen received the artist citizen of the world award france. Jul 04, 2016 when he played bolingbroke to ian mckellens richard in a 1960s prospect production, west discovered a play divided between his character and the king and learned that mckellen is a white. A videorecording of ian mckellens one man show, acting shakespeare. The students know ian mckellen as gandalf from the lord of the rings and the hobbit trilogies, but he is in his guise here of a gifted shakespearean actor of the royal shakespeare company giving his insights into acting shakespearean roles and the ways in which shakespeare can still communicate with the modern world. Apr 22, 2016 speaking at an event on richard iii, bfi southbanks shakespeare on screen ambassador sir ian mckellen gave his insights into the journey.
These days, sir ian mckellen is best known for playing characters in bigbudget cgi films such as gandalf in the lord of the rings, or magneto in the xmen, but once, not so long ago, when he was just a plain mister, mckellen was to be found giving incredible performances on tv in the likes of tom stoppards play every good boy deserves favor, where he played an imprisoned dissident. When he played bolingbroke to ian mckellens richard in a 1960s prospect production, west discovered a play divided between his character and. Ian mckellen on coming out, religion, and shakespeare mens. Ian mckellen, british actor of great versatility who was especially noted for his work with the royal shakespeare company and for his eclectic filmography, which included the lord of the rings trilogy and the xmen series. Ian mckellen, in full sir ian murray mckellen, born may 25, 1939, burnley, lancashire, england, british actor of great versatility, noted for his work with the royal shakespeare company and for his eclectic filmography mckellen attended st. This clip is from bbc one sitcom extras, which explores the world of film and television extras. By ian mckellen shakespeare theatre company, washington, d. The lord of the rings the return of the king 2003 ian mckellen interview duration. For years, 70yearold ian mckellen was a highly respected actor who alternated between films and stage, which included lots of shakespeare. Ian mckellens new app helps you understand shakespeare. There is an official website devoted to ian mckellen located at. Thursday, october 29, 2009 front row, center stalls sir ian mckellens first star turn on stage was as justice shallow in a cambridge university production of shakespeares henry iv, part 2. One of the greatest classicallytrained actors in the world, sir ian mckellen richard iii, hosts this distinguished program from 1982, wherein he performs a number of shakespeares most famous and celebrated monologues on stage.
From 1989, sir ian mckellen s one man shakespeare show. Biography widely considered one of the leading british actors of his generation, ian mckellen has had a rich and varied career encompassing the stage, screen, and television. The highlyrespected classical actor, ian mckellen, who won a tony award for his part in the play amadeus, stars in a oneman celebration of the bards works, ian mckellen acting shakespeare. Josh jones is a writer and musician based in durham, nc. Nick hern books ian mckellen on macbeth shakespeare on. Tolkien s constructed script of tengwar, on his shoulder in reference to his involvement in the lord of the rings and the fact that his character was one of the original nine companions of the.
Ian mckellen seeks to demystify shakespeare with new app. British actor ian mckellen in china for shakespeare on film. Thats it, ian mckellen insisted, when asked if king lear would be his final shakespearean role. Sunday in the park with george may 02, 1984 oct, 1985. Ian mckellen full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. He was costumed, he told the audience in filledtocapacity harmon hall. In fact, hes just launched a new app to help you understand shakespeare. Heuristic shakespeare the tempest is the first of 37 new apps to help students better understand the works of the famous bard. She adopted the appropriate german accent but none of the padding needed to match friedas ample figure.