Ian McKellen Announces 2nd Christchurch Performance at The Court Theatre, 6/3

Due to overwhelming public demand, Sir Ian McKellen will stage a second and final Christchurch performance at The Court Theatre in Addington on Sunday 3 June at 2pm.

Sir Ian is touring 11 New Zealand centres to raise funds for the restoration of Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal with his one-man show Ian McKellen ON STAGE. With the first Christchurch show at the Aurora Centre sold out within a week, Sir Ian generously agreed to stage a second performance at The Court Theatre. All tickets are $60 and, uniquely for this special Court performance, the proceeds will be donated directly to the ongoing recovery programs of both The Court and the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch.

Ian McKellen ON STAGE is a uniquely interactive show where the audience can ask any question about Sir Ian’s work and life as he retraces his journey from the north of England to the West End of London, Hollywood and Middle Earth.

There will be chat, reminiscence, gossip and performances from his Shakespeare and Tolkien repertoire – with maybe a song and a chance to act with him onstage!

"Basically it will be a party. Do come!" Sir Ian says.

“We are delighted to host Sir Ian at The Court,” says Chief Executive of The Court Theatre Philip Aldridge. “While we continue to fundraise for the theatre in Addington, we are thrilled to be able to contribute towards the rebuild of the Isaac Theatre Royal.”

“The last time I was on stage in New Zealand was at the Isaac Theatre Royal in Waiting for Godot,” Sir Ian says. “I love this beautiful old theatre and want to help restore it as soon as possible.”

The Court & Theatre Royal Foundation present Ian McKellen on STAGE With Shakespeare, Tolkien and You! (a fundraiser for Isaac Theatre Royal and The Court Theatre) at The Court Theatre, Bernard St, Addington, DATE & TIME: Sunday 3 June at 2pm. All tickets are $60. To book, call 9630 870 or online at www.courttheatre.org.nz. Tickets will be available for purchase at The Court Theatre from 9am Friday 20 April.

The 104-year old, ‘Grand Old Lady’ of Christchurch theatre survived the massive 22 February 2011 earthquake and subsequent considerable aftershocks. Although insured for the majority of reinstatement works caused by earthquake damage, policy excess and some very necessary heritage restoration and improvement works must be paid for by the Theatre Royal Charitable Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, who are now embarking on a challenging fund raising campaign to cover the additional costs of potentially $6 million. www.isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

The Court Theatre observed its fortieth anniversary in 2011. Instead of a year of celebration, New Zealand’s leading arts organisation faced a year of unprecedented challenge, public support and triumph; losing its 35-year home in the Arts Centre after the 22 February Earthquake, fundraising $4.6 million to construct a theatre inside an old Addington grain store and opening the new facility before the end of the year. With a huge amount of the theatre’s assets still inaccessible within the Arts Centre, fundraising continues in order to replenish resources. www.icanhelpthecourt.com