Sir Ian McKellen has stepped onto the restored Isaac Theatre Royal stage for the first time, more than a decade after helping raise over $350,000 to save the earthquake damaged venue.

McKellen, who has been in Christchurch for several days, visited the theatre on Friday to perform before an invited audience and see its restoration for himself.

The 87 year old actor was also formally named a Patron of the theatre and appointed an Honorary Citizen of Christchurch.

“It is magnificent. It’s one of the great theatres of the world, really, and very, very special for the city,” McKellen said.

“A symbol of survival for what was, and for looking forward to what can be. Theatres should be radical places where ideas are thrown at you, and it’s lovely to be a little part of helping save it.”

McKellen spoke about Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, the production that first brought him to the Isaac Theatre Royal in 2010.

He then performed two monologues, The Stranger’s Case from Sir Thomas More and The Revels Speech from The Tempest.

The audience included students, theatre staff and board members, sponsors, donors, local artists, performers and Christchurch City Council representatives.

Acting Mayor Victoria Henstock presented McKellen with his Honorary Citizenship in recognition of his contribution to the cultural life of Christchurch and his support for the theatre.

The theatre also presented him with a greenstone twist pendant representing friendship and his enduring connection with Christchurch.

McKellen first performed at the Isaac Theatre Royal on 13 July 2010 during the Australasian tour of Waiting for Godot.

He described the theatre as “a place of absolute delight” and promised he would return.

The Isaac Theatre Royal was badly damaged during the Canterbury earthquakes the following year.

McKellen later visited the damaged building wearing a hard hat and high visibility clothing. He was accompanied by then chief executive Neil Cox.

During breaks from filming The Hobbit, McKellen took his one man production Shakespeare, Tolkien and You around New Zealand to raise money for the theatre’s restoration.

The production was performed across 15 dates in June and July 2012, attracting full houses and raising more than $350,000.

One of the theatre’s Royal Boxes was later named the Sir Ian McKellen Shakespeare Box in recognition of his contribution.

Isaac Theatre Royal chief executive Greg Ward said McKellen had given the theatre more than most people realised.

“Sir Ian McKellen has given this theatre more than most people will ever know, from performing here in 2010 to the tour that helped fund our rebuild after the earthquakes,” Ward said.

“Naming him a Patron of the Isaac Theatre Royal, in person, during a visit he initiated himself simply because he wanted to come home, was one of the proudest moments in this theatre’s history.”

During his latest visit, McKellen was shown remaining pieces of the Waiting for Godot set, which were stored backstage and survived the earthquakes undamaged.

Speaking about the theatre during the restoration campaign, McKellen said its spirit would endure.

“There’s something about the spirit of this theatre. It won’t die.”