"My Royal Shakespeare Company debut was at the Edinburgh Festival as Dr. Faustus. Four years and 13 plays later, I had worked at Stratford-upon-Avon, London and throughout the regions, under the direction of my ex-university pal Trevor Nunn and our mentor at Cambridge John Barton." — Ian McKellen, October 1999
| Year | Place | Title/Writer | Director/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Royal Shakespeare Company Edinburgh Festival and Aldwych Theatre Edinburgh, London |
DR
FAUSTUS Christopher Marlowe |
DIRECTOR: John Barton ROLE: Dr. Faustus |
| 1974 | Royal Shakespeare Company Aldwych Theatre London |
THE MARQUIS
OF KEITH Frank Wedekind |
DIRECTOR: Ronald Eyre (and translator) ROLE: The Marquis of Keith |
| 1975 | Royal Shakespeare Company Aldwych Theatre London |
KING JOHN
John Barton, adapted & re-worked from the play of Shakespeare and other sources |
DIRECTOR: John Barton ROLE: Philip The Bastard |
| 1975 | Savoy London |
THE
CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE George Colman & David Garrick |
DIRECTOR: Ian McKellen |
| 1975 | Young Vic London |
ASHES
David Rudkin |
DIRECTOR: Ron Daniels ROLE: Colin |
| 1975 | Jackson's Lane Community Centre |
THE JOURNALISTS (rehearsed reading)
Arnold Wesker |
DIRECTOR: Arnold Wesker ROLE: The Editor |
| 1975 | Royal Shakespeare Company Aldwych Theatre and The Globe London |
TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD Bernard Shaw |
DIRECTOR: Clifford Williams ROLE: The Burglar (Aubrey Bagot) |