Portrait taken at agents suggestion by her approved photographer, Hordyk, in his London studio Hordyk
Portrait taken at agents suggestion by her approved photographer, Hordyk, in his London studio Hordyk
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. Paul Tanqueray
Barry Griffiths, on the technical staff at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, took portraits of the company for use in the programme.
Portrait Crispian Woodgate
Barry Griffiths, on the technical staff at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, took portraits of the company for use in the programme. Barry Griffiths
Portrait, June 1961 Tanqueray
Nottingham Fete (Ian McKellen, crowned, in rear)
Portrait Crispian Woodgate
Portrait, June 1961 Tanqueray
Roger Mutton, John D Collins, and Ian McKellen with a fan in Nottingham
Elizabeth Proud and Ian McKellen (Publicity Shot) THE COUNTRY WIFE
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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. WHEN WE ARE MARRIED
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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! YOU NEVER CAN TELL
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L to R: Bridget Turner, John Scarborough, Ian McKellen, Kristine Howarth.
I played the ancient butler (Tredwell) with hesitant gait and powdered hair. BLACK COFFEE
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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 Midnight Matinee
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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. CELEBRATION
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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. END OF CONFLICT
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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. END OF CONFLICT
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Lt. Brash (Mark Eden) and 2nd Lt. Mason (Ian McKellen) END OF CONFLICT
L to R: Snodgrass (Ian McKellen), Winkle (Peter French), Pickwick (Patrick Newell), Jingle (Bernard Kilby), Tupman (Alan Haywood) MR. PICKWICK
Pastiche L to R: Peter French, Kristine Howarth, Ian McKellen, Jane Murdoch, Sheila Keith Happy Returns
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. TEN LITTLE NIGGERS
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Sheila Keith (L) and Ian McKellen.
I was the hippy son of the household; the beard, like the performance, was false. THE IRREGULAR VERB TO LOVE
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L to R: Ian Thompson, Gawn Grainger, Colin Kaye, Brendan Barry, Ian de Voy, Patrick OConnell, Ian McKellen, Roderick Horn, Clive Graham, Jonathan Meddings, BECKET
The Kings fit before murder. L to R: Jonathan Meddings, Ian McKellen, Patrick OConnell, Clive Graham, Gawn Grainger BECKET
L to R: Gawn Grainger, Ian McKellen, Roderick Horn, Ian de Voy, Josie Kidd THE GAZEBO Commercial Studios
L to R: Ian McKellen, Jonathan Meddings THE GAZEBO Commercial Studios
L to R: Ian McKellen, Josie Kidd, Barbara Atkinson, Jonathan Meddings, Helen Ryan, Gawn Grainger, Brendan Barry 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 CASTE
L to R: Gawn Grainger, Ian McKellen, Jonathan Meddings, Colin Kaye THE BIG KILLING
L to R: Brendan Barry, Michael Forrest, Gawn Grainger, Ian McKellen, Brian Hankins THE KEEP (1962)
With Gawn Grainger (Uriah Heep) my closest friend at Ipswich. Thereafter his career thrived. Later married to actress Zoe Wanamaker. DAVID COPPERFIELD (1962)
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 ALADDIN & HIS WONDERFUL LAMP
L to R: Susan Wherrett, Colin Kaye, Gillian Malster, Marcia Ashton, Irene Inescort, Jonathan Meddings, Chris Winnera, Josie Kidd, Ian McKellen, Brendan Barry How Dare We!
Entry into Harfleur, Ian McKellen (centre) with other members of the cast. HENRY V (1963)
Josie Kidd and I as sweethearts yet again. Roger Hammond, a friend from Cambridge, having been to drama school, had now joined the company. 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 UNDER MILK WOOD
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 ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
L to R: Ian McKellen (Luther), Stephen MacDonald (Cajetan), and Gawn Grainger (Tetzel). Stephen MacDonald later playwright/director of Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. LUTHER
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. LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
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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. LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
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L to R: Gawn Grainger, Josie Kidd, James Cairncross, Betty Bowden, Thomasine Heiner, Ian McKellen I, JOHN BROWN
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 SALAD DAYS
Something for a future nation to be proud of. Act 3. Morgan Evans (Ian McKellen) and Miss Moffat (Peggy Mount.) 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. THE CORN IS GREEN
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. THE LIFE IN MY HANDS
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 A SCENT OF FLOWERS
Avoiding responsibilities on stage at Golders Green Hippodrome A SCENT OF FLOWERS