Theatregoer reveals she too ended up in hospital when Sir Ian McKellen landed on her as he fell off the stage

A theatregoer has revealed she too ended up in hospital when Sir Ian McKellen tumbled off the stage and landed on her during a performance this week. 

Johanna Dart, 30, from Leatherhead in Surrey, had got front row tickets to see Sir Ian in a production of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre on Monday, June 17.

But during a fight scene, the 85-year-old Lord of the Rings actor lost his footing and fell into the front row where Ms Dart was sitting.

Speaking to the BBC today Ms Dart said: 'Getting crushed by Gandalf the Grey, that's something you don't expect'.

She said it was an 'unforgettable encounter,' but not one she necessarily wanted to have with the acting legend who was playing John Falstaff in the production.  

Ms Dart was helped to the foyer by two women who could see she was 'in distress', before a doctor saw her condition and came to provide care. She was later taken to hospital with soft tissue injuries.

She told the BBC she 'went into shock at the whole thing' and had been enjoying the production until the scene where Sir Ian fell.  

Recalling the incident, Ms Dart said the actor appeared to 'trip on this bit of prop' that was on the stage, before falling and landing head-first onto her knee.

She said staff rushed to help Sir Ian, who is said to be recovering 'very very well', but felt they did not adequately respond to her injuries or state of shock. 

She told the BBC that staff initially 'seemed unsure' of what the health and safety protocol was and did not immediately provide assistance.

While they did eventually come to her aid, Ms Dart said they did not direct any of the paramedics who had arrived to treat Sir Ian to assess her injuries. 

She went on to say that staff told her to book her own taxi home, despite being in shock and tears. 

Ms Dart travelled home with her brother before her mother, Angela, joined her in a taxi and they went to Epsom Hospital. She went on to spend all night in the hospital's emergency department.

It was announced on Thursday that Sir Ian would not be performing again in London while he has physiotherapy and recuperates.

Understudy David Semark, 52, is taking his place as Falstaff.

Following his performance on Thursday evening, Semark said that Sir Ian had called him to let him know he would be playing the role.

Semark said: 'The wonderful Sir Ian McKellen called me to tell me what was going on, which was amazing, and [he] has been incredibly supportive throughout the rehearsals.

'The first person I heard it from was Sir Ian. We then had a discussion about the role. I have worked alongside him for months, so we get on, he's a friend.'

He continued: 'Obviously my first thought is for my friend, and the wonderful human being that is Sir Ian McKellen. He called me to tell me what was going on, which was amazing, and has been incredibly supportive throughout the rehearsals.

'I definitely couldn't have had the courage to go on there tonight if I didn't feel that he was behind me with me.

'But I am holding a place open for Sir Ian. I walk in the shadow of greatness...

'I've stolen 90% of what he does in that show shamelessly and tried to make it my own. It's been an incredibly stressful couple of days.'

Asked how Sir Ian was doing following the fall, Semark replied: 'He's doing very very well.'

A post to the Player Kings account on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday said: 'David Semark will be playing the role of Sir John Falstaff for the final three scheduled performances of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London while Ian McKellen recuperates following his fall on Monday 17 June.'

It added: 'We look forward to Ian returning to the production, which begins a national tour in Bristol on Wednesday 3 July, before visiting Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle.'