Stewart: 'Plays should premiere regionally'

Patrick Stewart has argued that the premieres of new plays should sometimes take place outside of the capital.

The Yorkshire-born actor has been starring in performances of Samuel Beckett's Waiting For Godot alongside Sir Ian McKellen in theatres around the country before its arrival in London on May 6.

Asked whether other cities should host premieres, Stewart told The Scotsman: "Certainly you should. Certainly a city like Edinburgh should, and I don't know why it doesn't happen more often.

"Ian and I have often commented that our first experiences of the best of British theatre were seen in touring houses, he in Manchester and myself in Leeds or Bradford, wherever I could get to."

He added: "We always saw the first-team cast. I understand that Calendar Girls has just gone into town after a very successful regional run.

"Perhaps that and Waiting For Godot will encourage actors and producers to do what we have done. Everybody is going to benefit."