ˈiːən tˈʊɹd wɪððə ʃˈɛfiːld jˈuːθ θˈiəɾɚɹ æz ɐ tˈiːneɪdʒɚɹ ˌʌndɚ ðə ɡˈaɪdəns ʌv dᵻɹˈɛktɚ mˈɛɡ dʒˈɛpsən plˈeɪɪŋ ɐmˌʌŋ ˈʌðɚz ɹˈoʊmɪˌoʊ, ʃˈaɪlɑːk ænd ɑːdˈɪsɪəs, wˌɪtʃ hˈoʊnd hɪz ɐpɹˌiːʃɪˈeɪʃən ʌv klˈæsɪkəl θˈiəɾɚ, pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚli ʃˈeɪkspɪɹ.
Ian toured with the Sheffield Youth Theatre as a teenager under the guidance of director Meg Jepson (playing among others Romeo, Shylock and Odysseus), which honed his appreciation of classical theatre, particularly Shakespeare.