Actor Ian McKellen has been rushed to hospital after falling off the stage during a West End production of Player Kings.
The 85-year-old was about two hours into the show in London when he fell, according to audience accounts.
The crowd was evacuated from the Noël Coward Theatre and the production was cancelled.
Writer Paul Nero wrote on social media platform X the audience was shocked to witness the fall.
Jeremy Chance wrote on Facebook he heard McKellen calling out "help me".
"At first I thought it was some modern theatre theatrics, but apparently not," he wrote.
Festival promoter AJ Maddah wrote on X that McKellen looked badly hurt.
"We are all in shock and tears," he said.
A spokesperson for the show told The Stage they were grateful for wellwishes from the audience and public following the show.
"Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian is in good spirits," the spokesperson told the publication. "The production has made the decision to cancel the performance on Tuesday, June 18, so Ian can rest."
Player Kings is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV by Robert Icke, in which McKellen plays the character Falstaff.
ABC
