IAN MCKELLEN - MCKELLEN STRIPS ONSTAGE

MCKELLEN STRIPS ONSTAGE

Veteran actor SIR IAN MCKELLEN shocked theatregoers when he stripped completely naked midway through a new production of KING LEAR. The 67-year-old was performing in a preview of the WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE play in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England on Saturday (24MAR07). His strip surprised many in the audience, who were given no advance nudity warning. A spokeswoman for the Royal Shakespeare Company says a meeting is being held today (27MAR07) to discuss whether to warn parents and school groups about the scene. MCKellen's agent adds, "It was a preview and the director is still making artistic decisions about the production. If the nudity remains, there will be a notice to warn the audience."