Nunn and McKellen's The Seagull to Play in Rep with Lear

According to Whatsonstage.com, two of the most distinguished men working in theatre--director Trevor Nunn and actor Ian McKellen--will collaborate on a new Royal Shakespeare Company production of Chekhov's The Seagull, which will play in repertory with King Lear at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Both The Seagull and the previously-announced King Lear will open in September before setting off on a world tour in March of 2007. McKellen will take on the title role of King Lear and play Sorin in The Seagull, Anton Chekhov's bittersweet tale of lost illusions among a group of actors and writers.

"For many years now, I have been hoping to return to my theatrical roots in the RSC, and for even longer, I have been looking forward to the fulfilment of the vow Ian McKellen and I made that one day we would do King Lear together. Add to that the fact that we both believe in ensemble work playing in repertoire, and you have the background of this exciting plan to perform these two plays with the same cast in Stratford-upon-Avon," stated Nunn who will direct a Stratford production for the first time in 15 years. King Lear will be the closing entry of the RSC's high-profile Complete Works Festival, celebrating the plays of Shakespeare.

Olivier Award-winner McKellen received a Tony Award for his performance in Amadeus, and was nominated for his work in Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare. Other Broadway credits include Dance of Death, Wild Honey and The Promise. Perhaps best-known to most for his performances in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (for which he received an Oscar nomination) and the X-Men franchise, he has also appeared in such films as Apt Pupil, Gods and Monsters (in which he received his first Oscar nomination), Bent and Six Degrees of Separation, as well as the upcoming The Da Vinci Code.

Nunn, who was was artistic director of the RSC from 1968 to 1986, will next stage the world premiere of Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll at the Royal Court Theatre. He won Tony Awards for directing The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby, Les Miserables and Cats, and other Broadway credits include The Woman in White, Chess, Not About Nightingales, Arcadia and Sunset Boulevard.

Call (0)870 7845 0512 for more information.