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McKellen: Why I Ignored Alec Guinness's Plea
7 May
Summary
- Sir Ian McKellen declined Alec Guinness's advice to withdraw from Stonewall.
- He laments the loss of UK repertory theatre and actor training.
- McKellen finds pantomime a uniquely British theatrical treasure.
Sir Ian McKellen, reflecting on his extensive acting career, expressed regret over the disappearance of UK repertory theatre companies, which once provided crucial training for emerging actors. He fondly remembers his early days in Coventry's Belgrade Theatre, contrasting it with the current landscape.
McKellen recounted an interaction with Alec Guinness in the late 1980s. Guinness, a respected elder statesman of British acting, advised McKellen against his involvement with Stonewall, a lobby group advocating for equal rights for lesbians and gays in the UK. McKellen, however, chose to ignore this advice, prioritizing his commitment to the cause.
Further discussing his passions, McKellen lauded pantomime as a distinctively British art form. He described it as a vibrant mix of theatrical devices—slapstick, song, dance, and audience participation—making it an ideal introduction to theatre for families and a source of national pride, comparable to his admiration for Shakespeare.
