THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
The hottest ticket at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe was Sir Ian McKellen performing in Hamlet with Edinburgh Festival Ballet and it has led to a new theatrical space being named in his honor.
The dance version of Shakespeare's tragedy, with McKellen performing the Prince's speeches and soliloquies and sharing the title role onstage with dancer Johan Christensen, was a 100% sold-out hit, seen by a record-breaking 13,000 people. The hybrid production, named Best Event Theatre at the Fringe by Theatre Weekly, was the inaugural performance at the 450-seat Ashton Hall at Saint Stephens Edinburgh, a new all-year performance venue in the Scottish capital. Founded by dance producer, director and choreographer, Peter Schaufuss, the hall is named after the choreographer, the late Sir Frederick Ashton.
Schaufuss, who directed and choreographed Hamlet, said: "Since the Fringe ended we have created a second 300-seat theatre underneath the Ashton Hall, at St Stephens and I am delighted to announce that Ian has accepted our offer to name the venue in his honour – The Ian McKellen Theatre at Saint Stephens." He added, "Ian is the greatest actor of his generation and we were thrilled to have him lead our company in Hamlet. Thanks to his involvement, we were the only genuine sold-out hit of the Fringe – we sold every ticket at every performance from the first preview and could have easily extended the run. He generously led our company and the beanie hat he wore in each performance of Hamlet was auctioned after the show, raising £12,000 to support a bursary fund bearing his name that will now help future young dance students at Edinburgh Festival Ballet School. Now his involvement with our company will live on in this new all-year-round performance venue for Scotland."
McKellen said: "Peter Schaufuss' unique contribution to Edinburgh's cultural life, during and beyond the annual festival, is now enhanced by his new theatre at St Stephens. I am honoured that it will bear my name."

