Sir Ian McKellen has raised a staggering $354,000 with his one-man shows, for the earthquake damaged Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch!
Sir Ian performed fifteen shows in eleven different centres throughout New Zealand in May and June. The money was raised through ticket and programme sales and from donations made in exchange for photographs and autographs. In one memorable show cast members from The Hobbit, including Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage, joined Sir Ian on stage and helped with the fundraising by collecting donations in buckets, signing autographs and posing for pictures. More than $10,000 was collected in the buckets alone!
The fund has now reached over $500,000 with $125,000 raised by a Flight of the Conchords concert, $10,000 by a performance by British actress Miriam Margolyes and a personal donation by actor and writer Richard O’Brien.
The restoration work on the theatre began on Monday, the first stage being to restore the theatre’s iconic dome.
In special recognition of Sir Ian’s contribution, one of the Royal boxes at the Isaac Theatre Royal, currently known as “The Bard’s Box” for it’s bust of William Shakespeare, will become the Ian McKellen Royal Suite.
Isaac Theatre Royal general manager Neil Cox said,
“It’s been a very special two months. The theatre is one of the few historic buildings in Christchurch to survive the earthquakes and it is wonderful to know it can be rebuilt and serve as a beacon for Canterbury people. To Ian, Richard, Jemaine, Bret and Miriam, our heartfelt thanks and appreciation.”
You can find out more about the restoration work and see some pictures of the theatre on infonews.co.nz
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