Ian McKellen ‘emotional’ as he opens County Durham theatre space

Actor says Ensemble 84 in Horden, employing local talent, is how a professional repertory company should be

It's a chilly spring evening in what was once a Catholic church in a left-behind County Durham pit village, and Ian McKellen admits he is feeling emotional.

This is the only company of actors in the United Kingdom and it's in ... Horden?" he says. I'm feeling very emotional. This fulfils all my romantic dreams I've had ever since I discovered the joys of theatre-going and acting."