Wizard way to raise venue funds

The world-famous actor is coming to the town at the weekend to help raise money for its newest venue, The Exchange.

The new multi-purpose building is used as a theatre and community centre and Sir Ian is taking time out of his current tour of Waiting for Godot and visiting on Sunday to help raise funds for a permanent cinema screen for the venue.

Throughout the day there will be screenings of three of his films – The Fellowship of the Ring, Neverwas and Richard III – and Sir Ian will discuss each film and his roles in them beforehand.

Kerry Gardner, a former actor an theatrical agent who is behind the drive for the new screen, has known Sir Ian for more than 50 years.

He said: “Ian has to be one of the nicest people in the world. I told him about our fundraising drive and he said he would take time out from his latest tour, which comes to Bath the week before, and come and do it.”

The day starts at 10.15am with a talk by Sir Ian, followed by a showing of the three-hour The Fellowship of the Rings at 10.30am.

At 2.30pm there will be a talk by Sir Ian followed by a screening of film Neverwas, which also stars Jessica Lange, Nick Nolte and Aaron Eckhart.

Then at around 4.20pm he will discuss Neverwas and the last film of the day, Richard III, which will be screened at 6pm.

Kerry said: “It would be wonderful to have a permanent screen at the Exchange because at the moment, films are projected on the white back wall of the stage, which sometimes means that the colour isn’t as sharp and the light spills.

“If we had a screen, we could show children’s films on a Saturday so parents could come into the town, leave their children at the Exchange and then go and do their shopping.”

Sir Ian McKellen will be at the Exchange, Sturminster Newton on Sunday, April 5 from 10.15am.

Tickets for The Fellowship of the Ring and £6 for adults, £4 for children. The double bill of Neverwas and Richard III costs £20.

For further details call 01258 475137.