Ian McKellen on Playing Hamlet

Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

Folger Shakespeare Library

Arts

4.7 • 837 Ratings

🗓️ 11 October 2022

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

He played Hamlet in his thirties… and again in his eighties. In between? Edgar, Romeo, Leontes, Macbeth, Coriolanus, Iago, Richard III, Prospero, and King Lear. Plus, of course, Magneto and Gandalf. On this episode, we talk with Sir Ian McKellan. Last year, he played Hamlet in an age-blind production of the play at the Theatre Royal Windsor, returning to the role for the first time since 1971. Then, at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, McKellen played Hamlet again, speaking the part alongside a ballet dancer in a production directed by Peter Schaufuss. Now, he’s is appearing as King Hamlet’s ghost in an essay film about the play called Hamlet Within. McKellen joined us from his home in East London for an extended conversation with Barbara Bogaev. In part 1 of our interview, we start by discussing the age-, gender-, and color-blind stage production of Hamlet he starred in last year, directed by Sean Mathias. From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast. Published October 11, 2022. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode was produced by Matt Frassica. Garland Scott is the associate producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster. Ben Lauer is the web producer. Leonor Fernandez edits a transcript of every episode, available at folger.edu. We had technical help from Rob Double at London Broadcast and Andrew Feliciano at Voice Trax West in Studio City, California. Final mixing services provided by Clean Cuts at Three Seas, Inc.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Here's a riddle. What actor played Hamlet in his 30s and then again in his 80s?
0:13.2	From the Folger Shakespeare Library, this is Shakespeare Unlimited. I'm Michael Whitmore,
0:18.5	the Folgers director. The unusual distinction of playing Shakespeare's Danish Prince in productions separated by half a century
0:26.8	belongs to Sir Ian McKellen.
0:29.8	He was a rising star of the British stage in 1971 when he first played Hamlet.
0:36.1	In the years since, he's taken on a number of Shakespearean roles, including Edgar, Romeo,
0:42.9	Leontes, Macbeth, Coriolanus, Iago, Richard III, Prospero, and King Lear.
0:50.5	Not to mention playing Magneto in four X-Men films and Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings.
0:57.0	The second time he played Hamlet, on stage in 2021 at the Theatre Royal Windsor, he was in his 80s,
1:04.2	and one of the most beloved stage actors working.
1:08.2	Then, at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, McKellen played Hamlet again. This time, he split
1:14.6	the role, speaking the part alongside a ballet dancer in a production directed by Peter Shalfus.
1:21.9	Now, McKellen is appearing as King Hamlet's ghost in an essay film about the play called Hamlet Within.
1:29.3	If thou didst ever thy dear father, love,
1:32.3	revenge is foul and most unnatural murder.
1:38.3	Murder much foul.
1:41.3	That's in the best it is, but this most foul, strange, and unnatural.
1:49.3	Sir Ian McKellen joined us from his home in East London for an extended conversation
1:53.9	with Barbara Bogave.
1:55.9	In part one of our interview, he begins by describing the age, gender, and colorblind stage production
2:02.2	of Hamlet. He starred in last year, directed by Sean Matthias.
2:07.7	When we were preparing to do Hamlet, COVID arrived, and we weren't allowed to open the theater,
	...

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