When Sir Ian McKellen Came to Visit

One of Britain’s most famous actors, Sir Ian McKellen joined our students and staff to officially open our new theatre and Centre for Performing Arts and Media.

The acclaimed Shakespearean actor and star of stage and screen gave the college’s Centre of Excellence students an unforgettable experience during a private audience attended by learners and staff from Performing Arts, Media, Fashion, Music and the Student Council.

The global star, who has a star in the town’s Believe Square, spent some of his early childhood in Wigan during World War II and reminisced about growing up on Parsons Walk.

He shared tales of his early career and education and how he started out by appearing in undergraduate theatre productions while studying at Cambridge University.

The Lord of the Rings star then met with a small selection of performing arts, creative arts students and members of the college’s LGBTQ+ group for an informal and intimate discussion, where they asked him a range of questions ranging from how someone from the north, and who grew up in Wigan, went on to become such a big star to how difficult it was growing up in a world where being gay was against the social norm.

With conversation turning to ‘making it’ and getting that lucky break Sir Ian said: “Luck is important, but my advice is to be ready for it when it arrives. Keep at it, keep working, and if there’s no work, make some.”

Sir Ian then sat down in the audience to watch performances from the college’s acting, musical theatre and dance students in what was an unforgettable experience for the group; noting the incredibly high standards in-line with industry that he witnessed.

He also added: “I’m happy when seeing young people performing, it’s inspiring and reminds me of myself, I am optimistic about the future of theatre.”

Assistant Principal, Student Experience Maxine Mealey said: “For our students to learn from and engage with someone of Sir Ian McKellen’s stature was a truly unique opportunity, but also to have him watch our students perform and say that he was blown away by the exceptionally high standards of technique and performance was amazing to hear. 

“What made the visit even more meaningful was Sir Ian’s genuine interest in our culture of inclusion and kindness, the time he took to engage with our students so thoughtfully and to actually perform for them. Wow! It is a day that our staff and students will never forget.”

After posing for photos with students and staff, the famous actor commanded the stage for an unplanned and spontaneous performance of “The Strangers’ Case” from the Shakespeare play Sir Thomas More.

The whole theatre fell silent with students and staff alike in awe of what was a uniquely once in a lifetime moment to be in the presence of acting royalty.