1961
Barry Griffiths, on the technical staff at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, took portraits of the company for use in the programme.
Photo by Barry Griffiths
1961
Portrait, June 1961
Photo by Tanqueray
1961
Portrait, June 1961
Photo by Tanqueray
1961
June — These were my first portraits, which Corin Redgrave, my fellow-undergraduate actor at Cambridge, persuaded me I should need as a professional actor. He took me to his fathers photographer in Knightsbridge, London. I was powdered and brushed and posed in front of an old-fashioned plate camera - and these two stilted shots were the result. I ordered 50 of each and used them to send to prospective employers and to the occasional fan.
Photo by Paul Tanqueray
1961 WHEN WE ARE MARRIED
L to R: Sheila Keith, Gillian Martell, Ian McKellen, Georgine Anderson.
I have since seen a number of prestigious productions but these were the best trio of wives who discover they are not legally wed.
1961 YOU NEVER CAN TELL
L to R: Allan Jeayes, John Scarborough, Bridget Turner, Ian McKellen, Sheila Keith, Ronald Magill.
The regular company was joined by Allan Jeayes (Walter, the waiter), a distinguished veteran from Alexander Korda’s romantic British films. Being nearly 80, he had trouble remembering his lines, although in this scene he singlehandedly served a four-course meal in under 15 minutes!
1961 BLACK COFFEE
L to R: Bridget Turner, John Scarborough, Ian McKellen, Kristine Howarth.
I played the ancient butler (Tredwell) with hesitant gait and powdered hair.
1961 Midnight Matinee
My new friends who introduced me to the friendship of the professional theatre.
The Belgrade Theatre Company, L to R: Derek Newark, Brian Bell (Producer), Bernard Kilby, Robert Gillespie, Sheila Keith, Bridget Turner, Ian McKellen, John Scarborough, Kristine Howarth, Peter French, Ronald Magill
1961 CELEBRATION
L to R: Bridget Turner, Miranda Marshall, Hazel Coppen, Derek Newark, Jennie Lynne, Peter French, Ronald Magill, Gillian Martell, Robert Gillespie, Ian McKellen.
Another chance for the regular company to show its versatility — my own contribution was as a Teddy-Boy in tight jeans and leather jacket restoring my native Lancashire accent which Cambridge University had tempered with received pronunciation.
1961 END OF CONFLICT
L to R: Richard Aylen, John Bryans, Ian McKellen, Mark Eden
End of Conflict was my first time in military uniform onstage. I learnt the basics of soldierly mien and drill, which have been constantly useful since.
1961 END OF CONFLICT
Mark Eden (R) and Ian McKellen
Mark Eden was the most glamorous actor I had worked with — he had star quality, more to do with his looks and demeanour than with his talent.
1961 MR. PICKWICK
L to R: Snodgrass (Ian McKellen), Winkle (Peter French), Pickwick (Patrick Newell), Jingle (Bernard Kilby), Tupman (Alan Haywood)
1961 MR. PICKWICK
Pickwick (Patrick Newell), Perker (Robin Parkinson), Isabelle (Penelope Cave), Mogsbury-Tonks (Jeffrey Sluggett), Snodgrass (Ian McKellen), Mrs Hunter (Sheila Keith), Joe (William Swan), Buzfuz (Denzil Ellis)
1962
Barry Griffiths, on the technical staff at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, took portraits of the company for use in the programme.
1962 Happy Returns
Pastiche L to R: Peter French, Kristine Howarth, Ian McKellen, Jane Murdoch, Sheila Keith
1962 TEN LITTLE NIGGERS
In rep theatres in the 60’s, actors were required to provide their own stage-clothes for modern plays. Here as a silly-ass rich boy who drives an E-type Jaguar, I sported my old school tie.
1962 THE IRREGULAR VERB TO LOVE
Sheila Keith (L) and Ian McKellen.
I was the hippy son of the household; the beard, like the performance, was false.
1962 BECKET
The Kings fit before murder. L to R: Jonathan Meddings, Ian McKellen, Patrick OConnell, Clive Graham, Gawn Grainger
1962 BECKET
L to R: Ian Thompson, Gawn Grainger, Colin Kaye, Brendan Barry, Ian de Voy, Patrick OConnell, Ian McKellen, Roderick Horn, Clive Graham, Jonathan Meddings,
1962 THE GAZEBO
L to R: Gawn Grainger, Ian McKellen, Roderick Horn, Ian de Voy, Josie Kidd
Photo by Commercial Studios
1962 CASTE
Caste, pre-cursor of kitchen-sink drama, was the first play in which a real cup of tea was brewed onstage. L to R: Jonathan Meddings, Josie Kidd, Ian McKellen
1962 CASTE
L to R: Ian McKellen, Josie Kidd, Barbara Atkinson, Jonathan Meddings, Helen Ryan, Gawn Grainger, Brendan Barry
1962 THE KEEP (1962)
L to R: Brendan Barry, Michael Forrest, Gawn Grainger, Ian McKellen, Brian Hankins
With Gawn Grainger (Uriah Heep) my closest friend at Ipswich. Thereafter his career thrived. Later married to actress Zoe Wanamaker.
1962 ALADDIN & HIS WONDERFUL LAMP
The cast. Ian McKellen (Tee Vee) at far left. Others from left: Irene French, Brendan Barry, Gawn Grainger, Irene Innescourt, Marti Webb, Peter Macriel, Jonathan Meddings, Josie Kidd, Colin Kaye
1963 How Dare We!
L to R: Susan Wherrett, Colin Kaye, Gillian Malster, Marcia Ashton, Irene Inescort, Jonathan Meddings, Chris Winnera, Josie Kidd, Ian McKellen, Brendan Barry
1963 UNDER MILK WOOD
L to R: Chris Winnera, Colin Kaye, Josie Kidd, Helen Ryan, Ian McKellen, Roberta Maxwell, Roger Hammond, Douglas Ditta, Gawn Grainger, Doreen Andrew, Barbara Atkinson, Jonathan Meddings, Brigid Panet, Susan Wherrett, Stephen MacDonald
1963 UNDER MILK WOOD
Josie Kidd and I as sweethearts yet again. Roger Hammond, a friend from Cambridge, having been to drama school, had now joined the company.
1963 ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Backstage party: Surrounding a local fan holding a cake, clockwise from lower left: Ian McKellen, Doreen Andrews, Stephen MacDonald, Roger Hammond, Josie Kidd, Roberta Maxwell, Gawn Grainger, Brendan Barry
1963 LUTHER
L to R: Ian McKellen (Luther), Stephen MacDonald (Cajetan), and Gawn Grainger (Tetzel). Stephen MacDonald later playwright/director of Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
1963 LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
L to R: Betty Bowden, Clive Morton, Stephen MacDonald, Ian McKellen
As in most productions, our Mary Tyrone acted her husband and sons off the stage - much the best part.
1963 LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
Clive Morton (James Tyrone) and Ian McKellen (Edmund Tyrone.)
I was very excited to work with Clive, trailing glory from films and the West End. By this time, simply on the basis of how well we all worked together, we believed that ours was a golden time in Ipswich.
1963 I, JOHN BROWN
L to R: Gawn Grainger, Josie Kidd, James Cairncross, Betty Bowden, Thomasine Heiner, Ian McKellen
1963 SALAD DAYS
The things that are done by a don, are things that a don doesn’t oughta... Josie Kidd, June Seath, Janet McIntire, Susan Wherrett, Roger Hammond, Douglas Ditta, Ian McKellen, Bruce Purchase
1963 THE CORN IS GREEN
Morgan Evans (Ian McKellen) gets a beating from Miss Moffat the schoolmistress (Peggy Mount.)
I was lucky enough to spar with Peggy Mount, a huge star of television and stage ever since her appearance as the harridan heroine of SAILOR BEWARE.
1963 THE CORN IS GREEN
Something for a future nation to be proud of. Act 3. Morgan Evans (Ian McKellen) and Miss Moffat (Peggy Mount.)
1963 THE CORN IS GREEN
1963 SERJEANT MUSGRAVE’S DANCE
L to R: Ian McKellen, James Cairncross, Gabrielle Hamilton, Andrew Keir, Peter Griffin, Josie Kidd, Gawn Grainger, Mark Follett.
Despite the songs and occasional jollity, this was the most depressing play to act in — we all agreed.
1963 SERJEANT MUSGRAVE’S DANCE
James Cairncross, Andrew Keir and Ian McKellen (Sparky) at the feet of Josie Kidd.
1963 ALL IN GOOD TIME
1963 ALL IN GOOD TIME
1963 CORIOLANUS (1963)
1964
Portrait
Photo by Crispian Woodgate
1964
Portrait
Photo by Crispian Woodgate
1964
Portrait taken at agents suggestion by her approved photographer, Hordyk, in his London studio
Photo by Hordyk
1964
Portrait taken at agents suggestion by her approved photographer, Hordyk, in his London studio
Photo by Hordyk
1964
Nottingham Fete (Ian McKellen, crowned, in rear)
1964
Roger Mutton, John D Collins, and Ian McKellen with a fan in Nottingham
1964 THE LIFE IN MY HANDS
Yvonne Coulette, Ian McKellen, Leo McKern.
Leo McKern was another Beatles fan and sang She Loves You yeah, yeah, yeah each night on his way to the stage. The following year he co-starred in their second film HELP!, playing the evil leader of a murderous cult. Eleanor Bron and Roy Kinnear also appeared in the Beatles film.
1964 SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING
Final soliloquy, Arthur fishing in the canal off the front of the Nottingham stage
1964 SIR THOMAS MORE
Ian McKellen as Sir Thomas More
I was too young but enjoyed trying to look like the real Sir Thomas — this photo was taken in my dressing-room.
1964 SIR THOMAS MORE
1964 A SCENT OF FLOWERS
Jennifer Hilary as Zoe watches unseeingly as her stepbrother Godfrey (Ian McKellen) mends a puncture. In the background, the Priest is played by Peter Howell
1965
1965 SUNDAY OUT OF SEASON
1965 SUNDAY OUT OF SEASON
Elaine (Lynn Redgrave) and Victor (Ian McKellen)
1965 SUNDAY OUT OF SEASON
Victor (Ian McKellen) and Elaine (Lynn Redgrave)
1965 SUNDAY OUT OF SEASON
Lynn Redgrave and Ian McKellen
1965 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965)
Ian McKellen (Claudio), Caroline John (Hero), and Albert Finney (Don Pedro)
Photo by Zoe Dominic
1965 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965)
This was the only National Theatre production I played in at the Old Vic
1965 ARMSTRONG'S LAST GOODNIGHT
Outside the Festival Theatre Chichester during the National Theatres summer sojourn
