The 85-year-old actor will not be returning to the stage in London after his fall earlier this week. He is expected to make a full and speedy recovery. British veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen will not be returning to the stage when the run of "Player Kings" resumes in the West End tonight.
The actor, 85, who plays John Falstaff in the show directed by Robert Icke, was performing at London's Noel Coward Theatre when he earlier this week. He was heard crying out in pain as staff rushed to help. He was taken to hospital after falling off the stage and doctors stated that McKellen was in "good sprits" and expected to make a full recovery.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday’s performances were cancelled to allow him to rest, and the Lord Of the Rings star and Olivier award winner thanked everyone who had left messages of support. He wrote on X: “I want to thank everyone for their kind messages and support. Since the accident, during a performance of Player Kings last night, my injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts, specialists and nurses working for the National Health Service.
To them, of course, I am hugely indebted.” While he said on Tuesday that he was "looking forward to returning to work", it has been confirmed that his understudy David Semark will go on instead for the final London performances tonight, Friday, and Saturday. "After three nights in hospital, the effects of my fall onstage have been fully analysed and I'm now having physiotherapy, li.
