Ian McKellen Opens New Theatre Space in Horden

Ian McKellen formally opened a new theatre space for Ensemble 84 in Horden, County Durham, on Saturday. The venue occupies a former Catholic church in the former pit village. McKellen said the occasion fulfilled long-held ideas about how professional theatre should operate.

The company formed 18 months ago and recruited local performers through open auditions. It currently maintains a core cast of 15 actors.

Background on the Company The theatre director Mark Dornford-May founded Ensemble 84. He previously co-founded the Isango Ensemble in South Africa using a similar model. Dornford-May said the company is now the largest employer in Horden since the National Coal Board closed.

McKellen said the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company no longer employ actors on long-term contracts. He described the Horden arrangement as the only current example of a professional repertory company in the United Kingdom. McKellen performed lines from As You Like It for the invited audience.

A performer who left university studies to join the ensemble said the concept of a theatre company in Horden is welcome. Another performer who previously worked as a civil servant said the role has changed her daily routine. McKellen said he would have auditioned for the company if he lived in the village.