‘I feel immensely jealous of him’ - Sir Ian McKellen delights at free Norwich show for 80-year-olds

Star of stage and screen Sir Ian McKellen treated an audience of octogenarians to an unforgettable afternoon at Norwich Playhouse.

Sir Ian's one-man show is touring 80 venues across the UK this year to celebrate the acclaimed actor's 80th birthday in May.

The tour came to the Norwich Playhouse this week for three performances, including a free matinee for others turning 80 this year and a guest, coordinated by Archant and the Norwich Playhouse.

The show was jam-packed with anecdotes from McKellen's illustrious career and he began the show dressed as Gandalf from Lord of The Rings.

He also took the audience on a journey through all of Shakespeare's plays and he recited passages along the way.

There were also more poignant moments, where he discussed coming out as gay to his stepmother and how he discovered his love of theatre as a boy.

The audience gave Sir Ian a standing ovation at the end of the show and he then returned the favour by singing Happy Birthday to them.

After the performance, Geoff Hinchcliffe, 79, from Shipdham, said: 'It brought back lots of memories about his early life around Manchester where I'm from.'

Penelope May, 79, from Sheringham, who came the show with husband Richard of 57 years, said: 'It was absolutely brilliant and I loved all the Shakespeare - I've seen him before in The Tempest in Stratford-upon-Avon.'

Paul Barnes, 79, from Norwich and former BBC Radio Norfolk presenter, said: 'I hate him, he is so nimble, has such a fantastic memory - oh I hate him.

'I feel immensely jealous of him, he is so fit, I totter about and couldn't do what he does, he is like a ballet dancer.'

Also attending the event was LGBT school children from Norfolk schools and people who are homeless.

Michelle Savage, chair of Norwich Pride who brought the pupils to the show, said: 'He is such a hero and icon to LGBT people and to hear he only came out at 48 to his stepmother but she said she had known for 35 years is hilarious.

'It is great that the students are totally captivated by an 80-year-old man they only known as Gandalf.

Stephen Crocker, chief executive at Norwich Playhouse and Theatre Royal, said: 'It is utterly fantastic, I am convinced the Playhouse is floating six inches off the ground with excitement.

'It is such a wonderful thing to share with groups around Norfolk and particularly those that we have worked with through our Creative Matter season including homeless charities and LGBT groups.

'I was speaking to Ian and he said he was really pleased we had used the matinee in this way to make a show available to as wide an audience as we can.'