Sir Ian McKellen

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for July

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  1. Queers at the Old Vic

27/7 will mark the 50th anniversary of the repeal of the law against homosexuality and BBC4 has commissioned the filming of eight monologues curated by Mark Gatiss and featuring authors including Jackie Clune performed by stars such as Ben Whishaw (pictured above), Russell Tovey and Alan Cumming. UPDATE: 4/7: No sign of Whishaw or Cumming in the Old Vic casting announced today but it does include Tovey, Gemma Whelan, Sarah Crowe, Ian Gelder, Mark Bonnar & Kadiff Kirwan. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Jack O’Connell, Frank Ocean & Stockard Channing

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TOP 5: Best read monstagigz content of 2016

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  1. When Sir Ian McKellen shared our Q&A with him on his Facebook page

Sir Ian has long been one of our favourite actors and when he shared our BFI Shakespeare Q&A with him on his Facebook page in April our traffic went into meltdown. Pictorial evidence above.

  • Read on for the preview when Kit Harington got naked and Sheridan Smith Twitter banter

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MONSTAS SHORTLIST: Theatre actor of the year: 2016

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It’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2016? Over the next fortnight we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 12 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2016.

  • Read on for nominees for the monsta for theatre actor of the year. 2015 winner: James McAvoy (The Ruling Class, Trafalgar Studios)

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Dresser starring Reece Shearsmith and Ken Stott

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Duke Of York’s Theatre

WHEN?: 8/10, runs to 14/1

Ronald Harwood’s 1980 play is based on his experiences as dresser to English Shakespearean actor-manager Sir Donald Wolfit, who is the model for the character Sir.

  • Read on for details of how the TV version of this play won a best actor monsta

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THEATRE REVIEW: No Man’s Land starring Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Wyndhams Theatre

WHEN: 21/9, runs to 17/12

Never has there been a play in the history of theatre where we’ve disagreed so intently with our companion for the evening about their interpretation of it.

  • Read on for the identity of the fellow Pinter star in the audience watching this performance Read More

9 reasons why we can’t wait for September

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart inhabit No Man’s Land

Our most read content of the year so far was shared by Sir Ian on his Facebook page and was a Shakespeare BFI Q&A with him in April. We’ve seen him many times filming Vicious at ITV Studios on the South Bank but never on stage in the theatre – until now and this Broadway transfer. Runs 8/9 to 17/12 at Wyndham’s Theatre. Picture via No Man’s Land. Tickets here.

  • Read on for reasons including The Fall, Billy Joel and Inside No 9

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THEATRE REVIEW: Richard III starring Ralph Fiennes & Vanessa Redgrave

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Almeida

WHEN: 10/6, press night 16/6 runs to 6/8

Director Rupert Goold’s inventive take on this Shakespeare classic revolves around a trench centre stage, beginning and concluding in the modern day Leicester car park where Richard III‘s body was recently found.

  • Read on for whether Ralph Fiennes’ Richard III is as good as Benedict Cumberbatch’s

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Q&A: Sir Ian McKellen & review of Heuristic Shakespeare app

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WHERE: BFI

WHEN: 28/4

Without his leading role in the film Richard III, which he also co-wrote, Sir Ian McKellen doubts whether he would ever have been cast as Gandalf and Magneto in the Lord Of the Rings and X-Men films respectively.

  • Read on for a review of Sir Ian’s new Heuristic Shakespeare app

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Sir Ian McKellen: Shakespeare on Stage, Screen & Elsewhere

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WHERE?: BFI

WHEN: 6/4

Sir Ian McKellen is telling the BFI audience about his relationship with Shakespeare because the venue has put his Richard III at the heart of its celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death later this month.

Read on for details of Sir Ian’s new app version of The Tempest out 23/4

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