Sir Ian McKellen visits the Archway - Friday 18th July 2008

• The Archway Theatre were exceptionally privileged on Friday 18th July to have a visit from Sir Ian McKellen, Patron of the Little Theatre Guild, to watch a performance of 'Flat Spin' by Alan Ayckbourn performed by Lewes Little Theatre.
• This production is part of the Tri Theatre Adventure between the Archway Theatre, Lewes and Oast Theatre, Tonbridge where each theatre is performing one play in the Damsels in Distress trilogy and touring it to the other two theatres, giving home audiences the opportunity to see all three plays.
• Sir Ian saw the Friday evening performance at the Archway Theatre. On Saturday morning he took a few minutes out of his busy weekend schedule to meet some of our Youth Workshop members where Sir Ian answered a few questions from the eager youngsters. After that Sir Ian travelled to Lewes to see the Oast Theatre's matinee performance of Role Play, to round off his weekend he travelled to the Oast Theatre to see the Archway Theatre's production of Game Plan.
• Sir Ian spent much of his time at the theatres speaking to club and company members about their theatres, where he was genuinely interested in the unique buildings and the problems faced by the amateur sector. He took time to speak with audience members and enjoyed each of the performances, he made sure he spoke to all members of each cast, backstage and front of house teams where he showed his commitment to the LTG as its Patron.
  
  Eddie Redfern
  Archway Theatre LTG Rep
  
  Quote from Ian McKellen
  
• “When you are involved in the day-to-day running of a Little Theatre, it must be a relief to share the experience with others who are doing the same thing elsewhere. Hence the importance of the Guild. But in July, three member theatres went much further by collectively presenting “Damsels in Distress”, Alan Ayckbourn’s trilogy, touring the productions, so that local audiences could see the three plays in their home theatre: a joy for the public but also for everyone involved backstage and onstage it seems.
  
  I saw the plays on a Friday and Saturday and actors, crews and directors were clearly revelling in the way their theatres had joined together as a team. I don’t know of a similar venture in the professional theatre and although Sir Alan jokingly called the idea a mad one, clearly there was method in it and a huge achievement.
  
  An added thrill for me was to visit for the first time, three eccentric and charming theatres – The Archway under the Horley station approach road, the Oast in Tonbridge, where the hops used to dry out and the more conventional theatre in Lewes. Thanks to all for their universal welcome and for the uniform standard of production. I’m a proud Patron!
  Ian McKellen July 2008.”
  
  

• View Photos of Sir Ian McKellens visit