Sir Ian McKellan (L) on stage in London for 'Waiting for Godot'. Photo: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

IT could simply be a publicity stunt, but it’s a pretty good one at that.

Sir Ian McKellan was reportedly mistaken for a tramp as he sat outside a theatre in costume while rehearsing for Waiting for Godot in Melbourne, Australia. He was sitting in his tattered costume, having a break when a passer-by gave him a dollar.

“During the dress rehearsal of Godot, I crouched by the stage door of the Comedy Theatre, getting some air, my bowler hat at my feet (and) seeing an unkempt old man down on his luck, a passer-by said, ‘Need some help, brother?’ and put a dollar in my hat,” said Sir Ian.

“I didn’t have time to thank him. Whether it was a joke I’m not sure, but I don’t think it was. I would love to think that reflects the generosity of Melbourne audiences,” he added.

“If that man would like to identify himself, we would like to invite him to come and see Waiting For Godot. And if he insists on paying, we’ll knock a dollar off the ticket price.”

“The dollar coin is now lodged between two drawing pins on the board above my dressing room mirror. It will be my good-luck talisman for the rest of our tour to Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and New Zealand.”

Sir Ian portrays Estragon, one of two characters in the 1949 Samuel Beckett play who spends the entirety of the performance waiting for a man who never comes.

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