Ian McKellen's donations to British Theatre tops £5m

Photo credit: Frederic Aranda

Ian McKellen, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, and Sean Mathias have donated profits from the National Theatre and Amazon Prime Video broadcast of McKellen’s celebrated one-man show, Ian McKellen on Stage.

The donations will be used to create a fund so emerging producers are able to cover actors’ salaries.

The show, which McKellen devised to celebrate his 80th birthday year, was filmed by the National Theatre in front of an audience at the Harold Pinter Theatre in January 2020. It is being launched exclusively on Prime Video for customers in the UK and Ireland from today, as part of a season of plays with the National Theatre.

The total money raised from proceeds of the show, including from the extended run at the Harold Pinter Theatre, further fundraising, and broadcast distribution of the show, is now over £5million.

This money will combine to create the new fund, which will be distributed via ATG productions. Multiple funding rounds will offer grants of up to £25,000 to pay actors’ for both new plays and revivals across UK Theatres. The productions must employ at least 6 actors and include a recent graduate from a theatre training school. Further information is available here.

McKellen said: “Performing Ian McKellen on Stage was a joy, and I am delighted it can now be viewed on Amazon Prime Video as filmed by National Theatre Live. As our theatres re-open, I’m very pleased to be able to support producers and artists who have really struggled over the last year.”

Charites that have benefited from the West End run of the show so far include Acting For Others, Half Moon Youth Theatre, IRIS Theatre Project, James Menzie Kitchen Award, Marlowe Society Cambridge, Open Door, Polka Children’s Charity, Riverside Studios, Royal Theatrical Support Trust, The Actors Centre, Theatrical Guild, West Glamorgan Youth Theatre and Women’s Prize for Playwriting. These join the previously announced beneficiaries Denville Hall, English Touring Theatre, Equal People, King’s Head Theatre, Mousetrap Theatre Projects, National Youth Theatre, Ramps on the Moon, Royal Welsh College, Streetwise Opera and U Can Productions.