Acting Shakespeare, Henceforward..., Othello
February 1987 - December 1989
"The USA tour of my solo Acting Shakespeare was a response to the failure of Wild Honey on Broadway. Henceforward... for a year in the West End was a response to my coming out as a gay man. My brief return to the Royal Shakespeare Company led back to Trevor Nunn and the familiar territory of subsidised theatrework." — Ian McKellen, October 1999 
The Plays
| 1987 | USA Tour San Francisco, Washington DC, Princeton, LA, Baltimore, Cleveland, San Diego, Boston | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (US 1987) From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen | ||
| 1987 | Playhouse Theatre London | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (London 1987) From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen | ||
| 1988 | UK Bristol, Nottingham, Birmingham, Dublin, Belfast, Leicester, Wakefield, Edinburgh, | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (UK 1988) From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen | ||
| 1988 | Delaware Theatre Wilmington, Delaware | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Wilmington) From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen | ||
| 1988 | Piccadilly Theatre London | Before the Act Gay and Lesbian writers and composers | ROLE: Producer/Uncle Freddie | |
| 1988 | Playhouse Theatre London | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (London 1988) From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen | ||
| 1988 | Vaudeville Theatre London | HENCEFORWARD... Alan Ayckbourn | ROLE: Jerome | |
| 1989 | Haymarket Theatre London | Promenaid | ||
| 1989 | Adelphi Theatre London | BENT (1989) Martin Sherman | ROLE: Max | |
| 1989 | Royal Shakespeare Company The Other Place, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon; The Young Vic, | OTHELLO William Shakespeare | DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn ROLE: Iago London Evening Standard Award - Best Actor London Critics' Circle Award - Best Actor |