Sir Ian McKellen, 85, delivers recovery update after three-night hospital stay for stage fall injuries
Ian McKellen suffered a fall during his performance of Player Kings
PA
Sir Ian McKellen will not be returning to Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre for the rest of the London dates after he suffered a fall and sustained injuries on Monday night.
The Lord of the Rings star lost his footing during a fight scene and fell off the stage before being rushed to hospital, prompting the audience to be evacuated from the theatre - the rest of the show was cancelled.
An update was issued the next day with a representative for the theatre explaining that McKellen was expected to make a full and speedy recovery and was not badly injured.
They told the Metro: "Thank you to our audience and the general public for their well wishes following Ian’s fall during this evening’s performance of Player Kings.
"Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team has assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian is in good spirits. The production has made the decision to cancel the performance on Tuesday, June 18 so Ian can rest.
"Those affected will be contacted by their point of purchase as soon as possible tomorrow. Thank you to doctors Rachel and Lee who were on hand in the audience and to all the venue staff for their support."
Ian McKellen's understudy will be performing whilst he is recovering
PA
However, a new update has revealed that McKellen is receiving "physiotherapy, light exercise and a lot of essential rest at home" after three nights in hospital.
His understudy is set to replace him for the play’s final London dates from Thursday, June 20, after the show was cancelled for several nights due to his fall.
A statement sent on his behalf by his publicist Clair Dobbs said: "After three nights in hospital, the effects of my fall onstage have been fully analysed and I’m now having physiotherapy, light exercise and a lot of essential rest at home.
"Meanwhile, my part in Player Kings is filled by the redoubtable David Semark supported by Robert Icke’s amazing production and cast. The many messages of love and support will, I am sure, aid the speedy recovery that my doctors have promised me."
The Lord of the Rings star has been in hospital for three days
GETTY
The Hobbit actor updated his fans on his official X account and penned: "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.
"They have assured me that my recovery will be complete and speedy and I am looking forward to returning to work." (sic)
An audience member, Charlie Johnson, who witnessed the fall told GB News that "people were crying" during the "distressing" incident.
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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…
— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) June 18, 2024
He said: "There were strobe lights going off, and it all went black for a second, and you can kind of see the silhouette of Ian McKellen playing Falstaff coming out from the wings, at which point on the stage there was sort of a step down just as the stage meets the audience.
"And I think what happened was he sort of misplaced his foot and lost his balance. I was sitting on the front row just to the right of where he fell off. He sort of dove had first landed on an audience member.
"It was difficult, obviously, to hear that and see it happen to such a fantastic person. The first two rows were ushered out really quickly, and then within 30 seconds the rest of the auditorium was emptied out. So I didn't really manage to catch more of him other than the initial fall.
"As we were leaving, people were crying. People were in tears because people had come probably from across the world to come and see him act in this play."