Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU

Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU is a one-man stage performance by English stage and screen actor Sir Ian McKellen.

The performance sees McKellen reprising roles over his career in the theatre (such as the works of William Shakespeare), on film (such as Gandalf in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings film series) while discussing anecdotes throughout his life and career.

All profits for ticket sales were donated to each venue and organisation for specific causes or an arts-related charity.

Performances

Park Theatre, London (2017) McKellen first presented the show as Ian McKellen with Shakespeare, Tolkien, Others & You at the Park Theatre, London from 3 to 9 July 2017, directed by Jez Bond.

UK and Ireland tour (2019) To celebrate his 80th birthday, McKellen toured the show across the UK and Ireland from January to September 2019, directed by Sean Mathias and produced by the Ambassador Theatre Group. The tour dates were as follows; +DateCityVenue25 January 2019LondonThe Space26 January 201928 January 2019National Theatre (Lyttleton)30 January 2019Young Vic1 February 2019Rose Theatre Kingston3 February 2019Bridge Theatre4 February 2019Richmond Theatre6 February 2019Above the Stag Theatre10 February 2019Hampstead Theatre11 February 2019Arts Theatre12 February 2019WindsorTheatre Royal, Windsor13 February 201915 February 2019LondonPiccadilly Theatre17 February 2019The Old Vic19 February 2019BristolBristol Old Vic20 February 201922 February 2019LondonRoyal Court Theatre24 February 2019Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch25 February 201926 February 2019Royal Academy of Dramatic Art1 March 2019Donmar Warehouse3 March 2019Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith4 March 2019The Questors Theatre7 March 2019Duke of York's Theatre8 March 2019IpswichNew Wolsey Theatre9 March 201910 March 2019LondonTheatre Royal Stratford East13 March 2019SwanseaSwansea Grand Theatre14 March 2019AberystwythAberystwyth Arts Centre15 March 201916 March 2019NewtownHafren18 March 2019MoldTheatr Clwyd19 March 201924 March 2019BathTheatre Royal, Bath25 March 2019IlfracombeLandmark Theatre29 March 2019NorwichMaddermarket Theatre30 March 20192 April 2019FolkestoneLeas Cliff Hall5 April 2019ChichesterMinerva Theatre, Chichester10 April 2019SouthamptonNuffield Theatre12 April 2019Bury St EdmundsTheatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds13 April 201914 April 2019NorthamptonRoyal & Derngate16 April 2019Frinton-on-SeaFrinton Summer Festival17 April 2019ColchesterMercury Theatre, Colchester18 April 201920 April 2019CoventryBelgrade Theatre24 April 2019NorwichNorwich Playhouse25 April 201927 April 2019King's LynnGuildhall of St George28 April 201930 April 2019OxfordOxford Playhouse1 May 20193 May 2019JerseyJersey Opera House4 May 20196 May 2019AylesburyAylesbury Waterside Theatre7 May 2019 CheltenhamEveryman Theatre, Cheltenham8 May 201910 May 2019CambridgeCambridge Arts Theatre11 May 201913 May 2019WiganLittle Theatre14 May 201915 May 2019StockportForum Theatre17 May 2019LiverpoolLiverpool Playhouse18 May 201919 May 2019CoventryWarwick Arts Centre20 May 2019BlackpoolGrand Theatre, Blackpool23 May 2019BurnleyBurnley Youth Theatre25 May 2019BoltonThe Albert Halls28 May 2019LancasterThe Dukes31 May 2019BuxtonBuxton Opera House1 June 2019LeicesterCurve2 June 20193 June 2019SheffieldCrucible Theatre4 June 2019WakefieldTheatre Royal, Wakefield5 June 2019ManchesterHOME6 June 20199 June 2019BillinghamForum11 June 2019BarnsleyCivic12 June 2019DoncasterCast14 June 2019RichmondGeorgian Theatre Royal16 June 2019HullHull New Theatre17 June 2019YorkOpera House21 June 2019BirminghamBirmingham Repertory Theatre22 June 201925 June 2019NottinghamNottingham Playhouse26 June 201927 June 2019CardiffNew Theatre, Cardiff28 June 20191 July 2019ExeterNorthcott Theatre2 July 2019PooleLighthouse3 July 2019Lyme RegisMarine Theatre5 July 2019NewburyWatermill Theatre15 July 2019BrightonTheatre Royal, Brighton16 July 201917 July 201918 July 201919 July 201921 July 2019Stratford-upon-AvonSwan TheatreRoyal Shakespeare Theatre25 July 2019BelfastLyric Theatre26 July 201927 July 2019DerryWaterside Theatre29 July 2019BallymenaThe Braid31 July 2019NewtownabbeyTheatre at the Mill1 August 20199 August 2019DundeeDundee Repertory Theatre11 August 2019PitlochryPitlochry Festival Theatre12 August 2019InvernessEden Court Theatre14 August 2019AberdeenTivoli Theatre18 August 2019Newcastle upon TyneTheatre Royal, Newcastle20 August 2019KeswickTheatre by the Lake22 August 2019EdinburghEdinburgh International Festival23 August 201924 August 201925 August 201928 August 2019OrkneyOrkney Theatre15 September 2019LondonNational Theatre (Olivier)

Harold Pinter Theatre, London (2019-2020) Following the success of the UK and Ireland tour, it was announced that McKellen would perform the show at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End for a limited run from 20 September 2019 to 5 January 2020.

Hudson Theatre, Broadway (One Make Believe) (2019) For one night only on the 5 November 2019, McKellen performed the show at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway as part of the Only Make Believe charity.

Home media The show was recorded during the run at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End by the National Theatre where it can be rented or seen as part of a subscription. It was also released on Amazon Prime Video on 11 June 2021, but is currently only available on National Theatre at Home as of 2026.

References