 In 2007 he returned to the Royal Shakespeare Company , in productions of King Lear and The Seagull , both directed by Trevor Nunn . In 2009 he appeared in a very popular revival of Waiting for Godot at London 's Haymarket Theatre , directed by Sean Mathias , and playing opposite Patrick Stewart . He is Patron of English Touring Theatre and also President and Patron of the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain , an association of amateur theatre organisations throughout the UK . In late August 2012 , he took part in the opening ceremony of the London Paralympics , portraying Prospero from The Tempest . 
