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