Actor Sir Ian McKellen appeals to fix historic clock ahead of show 

Sir Ian McKellen has made an appeal for the repair of a historic clock in Edinburgh.

The Lord of the Rings and X-Men star is set to appear in the city for a new production of Hamlet.

McKellen, 83, will appear in the performance at the former St Stephen’s Church in Stockbridge.

The actor, however is seeking an expert that would be able to restore the clock at the venue.

Designed by architect William Playfair, the site is a Grade A listed building, opening as the St Stephen’s Parish Church in 1828.

In 1992, it was converted into the St Stephen’s Centre and in 2017, it was purchased by the founder of the English National Ballet School, Peter Schaufuss.

McKellen made the appeal during an interview with BBC Radio Scotland’s The Afternoon Show.

“I wonder if someone out there listening can help?”, he told the programme.

“They have sent a firm along to get the clock going and it did. It only kept correct time for 90 minutes.

“Someone else was brought in and the same thing happened.

“Now, is there anybody out there who can get that clock working before we start our performances of Hamlet on August 2?

“I asked Peter Schaufuss, who now owns the building, if we could fix the clock and he said it was technically the responsibility of the council.”

The actor also suggested that the clock at the centre could be set fast so audiences know when performances are about to start.

“There may be somebody who knows how these old clocks work,” he said.

“I will give them a clue. It has the longest pendulum in northern Europe.

“It is waiting to be swung into action again to get that clock working. It’s an iconic clock in an iconic building.

“I gather that the clock at Waverley Stations always runs three minutes fast so that you don’t miss your train.

“We could perhaps do the same at the theatre. The bells are also still in the church – we could announce that performances are about to begin by chiming them.”