Sir Ian McKellen’s Wednesday performance cancelled after fall from stage

Ian McKellen at curtain call for Player Kings - DAVE BENETT/GETTY IMAGES

Sir Ian McKellen will not appear in Wednesday’s production of Player Kings after he fell from the stage while performing a fight scene on Monday night.

A spokesman said the 85-year-od Lord of The Rings actor, who is playing John Falstaff at the Noel Coward Theatre in London, was recovering well but would not be back to performing as soon as initially hoped.

An update suggested Sir Ian was expected to appear in Wednesday’s matinee performance, producers decided to cancel that on Tuesday afternoon “so that Ian can rest”.

Shortly after Sir Ian had lost his footing and fallen from the stage, a theatre spokesman said the actor was “in good spirits” and “will make a speedy and full recovery”.

The statement also thanked doctors Rachel and Lee, who were “on hand in the audience”, and to the venue staff “for their support”.

A theatre spokesman said the actor 'will make a speedy and full recovery' - Jacob Freedland/PA

After the accident, audience members took to social media to express their concern for Sir Ian. “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,” one wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Charlie Johnson, a journalist who was in the audience too, told ITV: “The way the stage works at the Noel Coward is there’s sort of a step down just as the stage meets the audience. I think what happened was he put his foot too far, sort of went off that initial step, at which point he lost his balance and pretty much just went head first into the audience.”

The audience was evacuated from the premises as Sir Ian was taken to hospital, where he was given a scan.

Player Kings, a production of Henry IV, parts one and two, adapted and directed by Robert Icke, is set to move to the Bristol Hippodrome in July and will also be staged in Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle.

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