Bent, Acting Shakespeare, Amadeus

May 1979 - February 1984

"Bent and Amadeus were two of the most popular plays of the period, wherever they were performed.  Their high profile continues partly because of the opportunities they give to their leading actors.  With Amadeus I returned to Broadway, and with the solo show Acting Shakespeare I toured Europe and beyond."

— Ian McKellen, October 1999


Ian McKellen, 1970s
Year Place Title/Writer Director/Role
1979 Royal Court and Criterion
London
BENT (1979)
Martin Sherman
DIRECTOR: Robert Chetwyn
ROLE: Max
Society of West End Theatres (SWET) - Best Actor


1979 Teatro Lirico
Milan
Gran Gala Per L'Europa




1979 Arts Theatre
Belfast
ACTING CHAT SHOW




1980 Scandinavia
Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Karlstad, Gothenburg, Stockholm
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (British Council Scandinavian Tour)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen




1980 Paolo Soleri Theatre
Santa Fe, New Mexico USA
Eagle in New Mexico
D.H. Lawrence


DIRECTOR: Patrick Garland


1980 Broadhurst
New York
AMADEUS
Peter Shaffer
DIRECTOR: Peter Hall
ROLE: Antonio Salieri
Tony
Drama Desk
NY Drama League
Outer Critics' Circle Award for Best Actor
New York Drama League Delia Austrian Medal for Best Actor



1981 Broadhurst Theatre
New York
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Globe Benefit)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen




1981 Broadhurst Theatre
New York
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Second Stage Benefit)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen




1982 Tour
Spain, France, Cyprus, Israel, Poland, Romania: Amherst College, USA.
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (1982 tour)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen




1982 Folger Theatre
Washington, DC
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Washington DC)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen




1982 Royal Shakespeare Company
EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR (1982)
Tom Stoppard with music by Andre Previn


DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn
ROLE: Alexander


1982 Royal Shakespeare Company
Barbican Theatre


To Cambridge With Love


1983 Europe and Israel
Lisbon, Madrid, Nicosia, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Jerusalem
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (British Council 1983 Tour)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen




1983 Hampstead Theatre
London, NW1
SHORT LIST
Michael Rudman
DIRECTOR: Mike Ockrent
ROLE: Terry


1983 Ateneum Theatre
Warsaw
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Warsaw)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen


1983 Ambassadors'
Richmond, Bath, Brighton, London
COWARDICE
Sean Mathias
DIRECTOR: Anthony Page
ROLE: Boy


1983 Theatre De L'Europe
Petit Odeon / Odeon Theatre
Paris
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Paris)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen




1983 Westwood Playhouse (LA); Ritz (NYC)
Los Angeles; New York
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (US 1983)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen


New York Drama Desk Award


1984 Oxford Playhouse
Oxford
ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Oxford)
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen


Next:
April 1984 - August 1986
Royal National Theatre