The People Speak, Ian McKellen performance

Ian McKellen performs William Shakespeare, Sir Thomas More, Act II, Scene 4 (c. 1593), at The People Speak event, London, September 2012.

Hosted by Colin Firth and Anthony Arnove, authors of the book The People Speak.

[durvonityejorand]

Thank you Sir Ian, for your good influence in the world. I was quite lucky to share the same era with you.

[nicholasnicola]

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant and sadly still so relevant to this day.

[AntonyJohnson]

Extraordinary speech by extraordinary writer delivered by an extraordinary actor. Thanks for uploading.

[EvilEddtheRed]

Glorious. I was lucky enough to witness Sir Ian perform this speech when he spoke at LIPA several years ago - astoundingly moving performance.

[rileycasey]

Astonishing that there should be only four comments on this riveting piece of poetry so beautifully delivered.

[morganfisherart]

Uploaded 3 years ago and still so few views! One of the few times Shakespeare's words have taken a direct hit on my heart and left me trembling (OK, maybe I'm just a dullard). Partly because he has made it so relevant, but majorly because of his stunning delivery. Will share this via FB and Twitter, etc., it ought to go viral! And, nice suit, Sir Ian!

[chokaetravels]

Truly Overwhelming - in each of the videos available online of Sir Ian performing this Speech, his is different and All Equally Breathtaking! A True Master of the craft - Not many men or women of this stature left... Old School Magic!

[MrThorfan]

I saw this speech yesterday when Ian was at the South Bank and even met him after the show. It's a brilliant speech, the sort that has a message still relevant today.

[siribaimusic]

has there ever been a speech more befitting our times?

[sarahprice]

Currently reading the play in a Shakespeare course. Watching this was part of our homework. It's one thing to read Shakespeare; to hear it is another matter entirely.

[lyndelannett]

Can watch this over and over.... And cringe as I think of my own government's inhumanity. Sir Ian's delivery is, of course, striking. So relevant.

[beccastell]

Fiona Shaw also did a version of this. I never get tired of trying to find my favourite version - the first McKellen one I saw!

[johnodonnell]

Wonderfully powerful! Sir Ian says “there’s no doubt he [Shakespeare] wrote it, because, well, when you hear it, you’ll know.” I agree. But the manuscript, to which Sir Ian refers (clearly the author's working copy, with many deletions and revisions), is in the hand of Sir Henry Neville (1562–1615). The late Dr John Casson established this, and my own study of the document (after having transcribed over 50, 000 words from Neville's hand) leaves me in no possible doubt. The solution to the authorship problem is right here, in this speech (undoubtedly Shakespeare) and in this manuscript (undoubtedly Neville).

[rexmundi]

Could not be more topical if it had been reported in this mornings news by political commentator Bill Shakespeare.

[UNORTHODOX]

“A plead to humanity” if only they would hear

[charliedrosario]

Long live SIR Ian. I'm not just saying that because he is wunn of my longest living heroes, although of course that has got something too do with it.

[hamadeyalook]

Can someone send this to Trump and sees that he see this?

[sarahcowan]

Nothing on earth is new - hatred, fear and xenophobiastill pervade the public mind.

[nateedge]

Awesome, lol i saw a little bit of Gandalf come out