Player Kings

Closing: June 22, 2024

Player Kings - 2024 West End History , Info & More

Cast History Photos More to Do

Noel Coward Theatre

85-88 St Martin's Ln, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4AP, United Kingdom London

Run Type Limited Run

Market West End

Previews April 01, 2024

Ian McKellen - 'one of the world's greatest actors' (Times) - plays Falstaff in a new version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, adapted by the award-winning writer and director Robert Icke.

A divided country, leadership crumbling, corruption in the air. Welcome to England.

Hal wasn't born to be king. Only now, it seems, he will be. His father longs for him to leave behind his friends in the taverns of Eastcheap, most notably the infamous John Falstaff. War is on the horizon. But will Hal ever come good?

Bringing together Shakespeare's two great history plays (Henry IV, parts 1 and 2), Player Kings will reign over London’s West End for twelve weeks only – playing at the Noël Coward Theatre from April 2024.

__Assisted Performances__

Captioned Performance: Saturday 1 June 2024 - 2.30pm

Audio described Performance: Saturday 15 June 2024 - 2.30pm

Player Kings - 2024 - West End Cast

Ian McKellen

Tafline Steen

Annette McLaughlin

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Player Kings

Ian McKellen is a mesmerising Falstaff in Robert Icke's iconoclastic fusion of Henry IV parts 1 and 2

From: BroadwayWorld By: Alexander Cohen Date: 2024-04-12

8 / 10

Watching an Icke production is like having brain surgery. The auteur has made his name with ice cold reinventions of classic plays that sliced straight into you with scalpel like precision. Whilst no stranger to Shakespeare, Player Kings is a step out the comfort zone: there’s still the heavy themes firing together and against each other like synapses, but here it's soaked in bawdy earthiness and barrels of acidic wit thanks to Falstaff.

Ian McKellen’s richly complex Falstaff is magnetic

From: The Guardian By: Arifa Akbar Date: 2024-04-12

6 / 10

Falstaff’s crew of revellers and rustic yokels seem like a cross between Rooster’s “friends, outcasts and leeches” from Jerusalem and a modern, Fagin-like gang of burglars and pickpockets, with Falstaff as their head, and Mistress Quickly a particular highlight in Clare Perkins. We meet Hal (Toheeb Jimoh) staggering among them in underpants precariously slipping off (have we have seen a mooning prince before?).

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Update: Sir Ian McKellen Will Not Return to PLAYER KINGS in London Following Onstage Photo

Update: Sir Ian McKellen Will Not Return to PLAYER KINGS in London Following Onstage Fall
by Joshua Wright - June 20, 2024

It has been announced that Sir Ian McKellen will not return to Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London after he suffered a fall during a performance earlier this week.

Sir Ian McKellen Delays Return To PLAYER KINGS After Falling Off Stage Photo

Sir Ian McKellen Delays Return To PLAYER KINGS After Falling Off Stage
by Joshua Wright - June 18, 2024

While Sir Ian McKellen is expected to make a full recovery following an on-stage accident during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London, the production has announced that McKellen's return to the show will be delayed an additional day.

Sir Ian McKellen To Make Full Recovery After On-Stage Fall; PLAYER KINGS Tuesday Perf Photo

Sir Ian McKellen To Make Full Recovery After On-Stage Fall; PLAYER KINGS Tuesday Performance Canceled
by Joshua Wright - June 17, 2024

Sir Ian McKellen is expected to make a full recovery following an on-stage accident during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.

Sir Ian McKellen Hospitalized After On-Stage Fall During PLAYER KINGS at Noël Coward Photo

Sir Ian McKellen Hospitalized After On-Stage Fall During PLAYER KINGS at Noël Coward Theatre
by Joshua Wright - June 17, 2024

Sir Ian McKellen, the esteemed 85-year-old actor, has been hospitalized following an on-stage accident during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.

Review Roundup: What Did the Critics Think of Ian McKellen in PLAYER KINGS? Photo

Review Roundup: What Did the Critics Think of Ian McKellen in PLAYER KINGS?
by Aliya Al-Hassan - April 12, 2024

Bringing together Shakespeare's two great history plays, Player Kings is now open at the Noël Coward Theatre. Ian McKellen plays Falstaff in a new version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, adapted by the award-winning writer and director Robert Icke. A divided country, leadership crumbling, corruption in the air.

Review: PLAYER KINGS, Noël Coward Theatre Photo

Review: PLAYER KINGS, Noël Coward Theatre
by Alexander Cohen - April 12, 2024

Ian McKellen is a mesmerizingly athletic Falstaff in Robert Icke's iconoclastic fusion of Henry IV parts 1 and 2

Photo: Check Out All New Artwork For Ian McKellen-Led PLAYER KINGS Photo

Photo: Check Out All New Artwork For Ian McKellen-Led PLAYER KINGS
by Stephi Wild - March 29, 2024

Player Kings, led by Ian McKellen, has released all new artwork ahead of its first preview in the West End this Monday 1 April. Check out the photo here!

PLAYER KINGS Starring Ian McKellen Will Embark on UK Tour Photo

PLAYER KINGS Starring Ian McKellen Will Embark on UK Tour
by Stephi Wild - March 21, 2024

Ian McKellen-led Player Kings, adapted and directed by Robert Icke from William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 is to go on a UK tour following its West End run.

Photo: First Look at Ian McKellen as Falstaff in PLAYER KINGS Photo

Photo: First Look at Ian McKellen as Falstaff in PLAYER KINGS
by Stephi Wild - March 1, 2024

An all new photo has been released of Ian McKellen as Falstaff in Player Kings. Check out the photo here!

Interview: 'She's Quite a Character!': Actor Clare Perkins on Modernising Shakespeare Photo

Interview: 'She's Quite a Character!': Actor Clare Perkins on Modernising Shakespeare and Playing Mistress Quickly in Robert Icke's PLAYER KINGS
by Kat Mokrynski - February 22, 2024

Player Kings, a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, arrives on the West End in April. Recently, we had the chance to speak with Clare Perkins, who plays Mistress Quickly. We discussed taking on a modern version of Shakespeare and what she hopes audiences take away from the work.

Photos: Inside Rehearsal For PLAYER KINGS, Starring Ian McKellen! Photo

Photos: Inside Rehearsal For PLAYER KINGS, Starring Ian McKellen!
by Stephi Wild - January 30, 2024

Rehearsal photos have been released for Player Kings, adapted by Robert Icke from William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. Check out the photos here!

Toheeb Jimoh and Richard Coyle Join Ian McKellen in Robert Icke's Production of PLAYE Photo

Toheeb Jimoh and Richard Coyle Join Ian McKellen in Robert Icke's Production of PLAYER KINGS
by Stephi Wild - January 19, 2024

The full cast has been revealed for Player Kings, adapted by Robert Icke from William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2.

Player Kings FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long has Player Kings been running on the West End?

Player Kings opened at the Noel Coward Theatre on Monday Apr 01, 2024 and has now been running for 1 month.

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