We’re really excited to be welcoming Sir Ian McKellen to Eden Court on Monday 12 August for his sold-out show. Ian is celebrating his 80th birthday by touring a new solo show to theatres he knows well, and a few that he doesn’t. The show will start with Gandalf and will probably end with an invitation to act with him on stage. In-between there will be anecdotes and acting. He’s played in Scotland, but this is his first time in Inverness where his ancestors came from.
Sir Ian Murray McKellen CH CBE turned 80 on 25 May this year. He is an actor whose career spans genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is the recipient of six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BIF Award, two Saturn Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, and two Critics' Choice Awards. He has also received nominations for two Academy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards and four BAFTAs. He achieved worldwide fame for his film roles, including the titular King in Richard III (1995), James Whale in Gods and Monsters (1998), Magneto in the X-Men films, and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
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Taking this new Show to 80+ theatres around the country, has been a joyful birthday present to myself. I’ve played mainly in theatres I knew well as a young theatregoer and actor. On my birthday, I was in Bolton Town Hall where my dad used to work. It began last February with 15 theatres in Greater London and will end in Orkney. As for the show? Ask someone who’s seen it. Come and find out
Warmth, wit and wizardry. Come one, come all and marvel
When Ian’s team got in touch with me and asked if we’d like to host his special show it was without doubt the quickest and easiest programming decision of my career. Sir Ian is a national, indeed an international treasure, whose appeal, talent and skills are uniquely recognised by generations of people. In addition to his unrivalled talent Ian is also universally renowned to be an incredibly kind, generous and personable man. These qualities are perhaps best demonstrated by this unique gift to UK theatres in his 80th year. The profits of the evening are all being retained by Eden Court so we can enable children and young people across the Highlands to visit us. We are all indebted to Ian’s kind generosity which is enabled by all the people who booked tickets for his show
From Eden Court, Inverness and the Highlands of Scotland we would like to wish Sir Ian McKellen a Happy 80th Birthday.
We hope everyone that has tickets enjoys an amazing evening with Ian McKellen at Eden Court. Share your experience across social media with the hashtag: #SirIanAtEdenCourt.
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