Two angry men: Coriolanus then and now

Ian McKellen won the 1984 Best Actor award for his Coriolanus at the National, hailed by one critic as ‘a titanic study in arrogance’. This in spite (or perhaps because) of there being 30 audience members seated on the stage who caused him no end of trouble — one woman even asked him to sign her programme as he launched into a soliloquy. After 102 performances, Peter Hall’s production transferred to Athens for two open-air performances below the Acropolis. ‘Playing Shakespeare to 6,000 in the open air, with inadequate amplification and chasing up and down ancient steep and deep stairs... with banner and sword aloft, is a young man’s game,’ wrote McKellen of the exhaustion he felt at the time (he was 44). ‘During the final show I drank five litres of water and a jar of Greek honey.’

Reviving the role, Tom Hiddleston’s Corio-lanus at the Donmar Warehouse last year was variously described by critics as ‘scorching’ (Variety), ‘a powerhouse performance’ (Daily Telegraph), and Hiddleston himself as having ‘blazing stellar power’ (The Independent) and a ‘strapping torso!’ (Evening Standard). The latter was particularly well-received by Hiddleston’s army of young fans who ensured the run was an immediate sell-out, making the switch from cinema to theatre to watch their idol, who has made a name for himself playing power-mad villains on screen. They took to the internet in their thousands to applaud director Josie Rourke’s decision to add a topless shower scene not found in the original Shakespearean text. Here’s hoping Hollywood allows them both another turn in the West End soon.