Richard Coyle

Sir Ian McKellen lost his balance and went 'head first' into an audience before letting out a 'blood-curdling scream' during a West End performance last night. The 85-year-old actor tumbled off the front of the stage just before the interval of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre in London and was taken to hospital. The crowd were evacuated from the theatre at about 8pm while paramedics were called - and ticket holders were told the evening show had been cancelled. Show bosses said that Sir Ian 'will make a speedy and full recovery' and is in 'good spirits' - but tonight's performance has also been cancelled so he can rest. Charlie Johnson, a journalist for the Kingston Courier who was in the audience, told ITV: 'As we approached the interval of the play, there was a fight scene going on. There were strobe lights and then it all went dark, at which point you could see the silhouette of Sir Ian come out from the wings. And the way the stage works at the Noel Coward is there's sort of a step down just as the stage meets the audience. I think what happened was he put his foot too far, sort of went off that initial step, at which point he lost his balance and pretty much just went head first into the audience. And within seconds a blood-curdling scream arose from the actor. He was clearly in a lot of pain, he was screaming 'help me'.'

Sir Ian McKellen screamed out in agony as he tripped over props and plunged off the stage during a West End performance last night - leaving shocked theatregoers in tears as the acting legend was rushed to hospital. Audience members have revealed how the 85-year-old tumbled off the front of the stage in a 'belly flop fashion' just before the intermission of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre in London. The crowd were evacuated from the theatre at around 8pm while medics were called to the venue - and ticket holders were told the evening show had been cancelled. Representatives for the production confirmed that Sir Ian 'will make a speedy and full recovery' and is in 'good spirits' - but Tuesday's performance has also been cancelled so he can recover. Sir Ian - who plays John Falstaff in the play - was circling a battle scene involving the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy, when he tripped and fell off the stage.

The 85-year-old actor was involved in a fight scene during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre when he lost his balance and tumbled off the front of the stage. The audience has been evacuated from the theatre in London's West End and they have been told the evening show has been cancelled. It's understood Sir Ian - who plays John Falstaff - was circling a battle scene involving the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy, when he fell off the stage. The actor is said to have cried out in pain as staff rushed to help him. London ambulances were seen outside the theatre tonight. The extent of the Lord of the Rings actor's injuries are not known at this stage. Player Kings, which started its 12-week West End run in April, is a production of Henry IV, Parts One and Two.