"During rehearsals for 'Swan Song' Edward Petherbridge and I fantasised about a theatre company whose actors would be their own managers, sharing out the parts as a group of equals. David William, our director, challenged us to turn the dream into reality, so we wrote to likely colleagues for their input. One by one others joined in and eight months later The Actors Company was in rehearsal for its opening season. This rapid progress was thanks to Richard Cottrell's offer to present us as part of his Cambridge Theatre Company, whose annual Arts Council grant contributed to our running costs." — Ian McKellen, October 1999
| Year | Place | Title/Writer | Director/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 |
The Actors Company (Founder Member) UK Tour/Edinburgh '72, Cambridge Arts, Wimbledon |
RULING THE ROOST
Georges Feydeau ("Le Dindon") |
DIRECTOR: Richard Cottrell (and adaptor) ROLE: page-boy |
| 1972 |
The Actors Company UK Tour/Edinburgh '72, Cambridge Arts |
'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE
John Ford |
DIRECTOR: David Giles ROLE: Giovanni |
| 1972 |
The Actors Company Cambridge Arts |
THE THREE ARROWS
Iris Murdoch |
DIRECTOR: Noel Willman ROLE: Prince Yoremitsu |
| 1973 |
Vaudeville London |
A PRIVATE MATTER
Ronald Mavor |
DIRECTOR: Ian McKellen |
| 1973 |
The Actors Company UK Tour/Edinburgh '73, BAM, Wimbledon |
THE WAY OF THE WORLD
William Congreve |
DIRECTOR: David William ROLE: Lady Wishfort's Footman |
| 1973 |
The Actors Company UK Tour/Edinburgh '73, BAM, Wimbledon |
THE WOOD DEMON
Anton Chekov, translated by Ronald Hingley |
DIRECTOR: David Giles ROLE: Kruschov (The Wood Demon) |
| 1973 |
The Actors Company Edinburgh '73, Shaw London, BAM |
KNOTS
R. D. Laing, devised and staged by Edward Petherbridge |
DIRECTOR: Edward Petherbridge |
| 1974 |
The Actors Company Brooklyn Academy of Music Wimbledon UK Tour |
KING LEAR
William Shakespeare |
DIRECTOR: David William ROLE: Edgar NY Drama Desk Award for WOOD DEMON & KING LEAR |
| 1974 |
The Actors Company Wimbledon Theatre |
'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE (Wimbledon)
John Ford |
DIRECTOR: David Giles ROLE: Giovanni |