Jane Bertish, Michael Pennington Join Cast of CFT's THE SYNDICATE

Stage and screen star Ian McKellen will be joined by Jane Bertish and Michael Pennington in the Chichester Festival Theatre production of THE SYNDICATE, according to Whatsonstage.com. McKellen will play mob boss 'Don Antonino Barracano' in the play, which was written by Eduardo De Flippo. 

The production, which is set to run July 21- August 20, will be directed by Sean Mathias. For additional information, visit: http://www.cft.org.uk/index.asp

Sir Ian McKellen has appeared on Broadway in Dance of Death, Ian McKellen: A Knight Out at the Lyceum, Wild Honey, Ian KcKennel: Acting Shakespeare, Amadeus, and The Promise. Long known as a Shakespearean actor with the U.K.'s National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, amongst other high profile establishments. He has appeared in over 250 productions, garnering multiple Tony and Olivier Awards. In 1979 he was awarded the Commander of the British Empire for his services to drama. He has recently attracted wider fame and attention for his portrayal as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and as well as for his role as Magneto in the popular X-Men films. McKellen recently reprised his role of Estragon in the West End's Haymarket Theatre's production of 'Waiting for Godot' directed by Sean Mathias, which also starred Roger Rees.

Pennington's stage credits include: Hamlet (RSC), Oedipus the King, The Entertainer, and Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. In 1986, Pennington and director Michael Bogdanov together founded the English Shakespeare Company. As joint artistic director, he starred in the company's inaugural productions of The Henrys and, in 1987, the seven-play history cycle of The Wars of the Roses, which toured worldwide. He has directed plays including Twelfth Night at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the United States.

Bertish has starred in such films as: Ashes to Ashes, Inspector Lewis, Sensitive Skin, Bodywork, The Sins, and more.