SIR Ian McKellen is set to have a theatre in Scotland named in his honour.
A new 300-seater theatre underneath the Ashton Hall at Saint Stephens in Edinburgh will now be named after the Lord of the Rings star.
Now called the Ian McKellen theatre at Saint Stephens, the venue hosted the actor's dance version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which had a sold-out run during the Fringe being seen by 13,000 people.
McKellen performed the iconic speeches and soliloquies while sharing the role onstage with lead dancer Johan Christensen.
Peter Schaufuss, who directed and choreographed the production, said: “Since the Fringe ended we have created a second 300-seat theatre underneath the Ashton Hall, at Saint Stephens and I am delighted to announce that Ian has accepted our offer to name the venue in his honour - The Ian McKellen Theatre at Saint Stephens.
McKellen said: “Peter Schaufuss’s unique contribution to Edinburgh’s cultural life, during and beyond the annual festival, is now enhanced by his new theatre at St Stephens. I am honoured that it will bear my name.”
Branding McKellen “the greatest actor of his generation”, Schaufuss said he was “thrilled” to have had the actor lead the company’s production of Hamlet.
He added: “Thanks to his involvement, we were the only genuine sold-out hit of the Fringe - we sold every ticket at every performance from the first preview and could have easily extended the run.
"He generously led our company and the beanie hat he wore in each performance of Hamlet was auctioned after the show - raising £12,000 to support a bursary fund bearing his name that will now help future young dance students at Edinburgh Festival Ballet School. Now his involvement with our company will live on in this new all-year-round performance venue for Scotland.”
