“Having always been known as a bit of a performer ever since my childhood, it was not unexpected that I would one day attend a drama school. I was accepted and trained at the now defunct Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. The alumni of which includes Steven Berkoff, Sue Johnston, Sir Anthony Sher, Terence Stamp, Julian Fellows, Angela Lansbury, Hugh Bonneville and Ross Kemp – which gives you a flavour of the old place.
Being a classical training school, we were actively encouraged to embrace all things Shakespeare. The idea being that if you can feel confident using his language – you can tackle anything! As part of the course we had to create, write and devise staging for a one-man Shakespeare show. Taking the part of one character to illuminate the play from their perspective and perhaps using modern references if relevant. I had no idea at the time, that embarking on this project would define my life.
I performed my first one-man show in 1989. It was Macbeth and to be honest, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I had learnt some speeches and filled in the gaps with a few jokes that I thought would appeal to an audience. What I fully understood was that it is essential to remember that these plays were written as entertainment and that to revere them too much would not only risk distancing them from an audience but also risk making them archaic and dull. I have since gone on to develop six of Shakespeare’s plays, two stories by Dickens, and a few Christmas tales.
When approaching a new project, my purpose is always the same: tell the story, include speeches and keep it fresh with energy and improvisation. In addition to my one-man performances, I also encourage people to discover meaning and language in drama workshops which I facilitate. My long experience of improvisation also enables me to work with groups over a few days. We learn extracts, improvise and devise a production of a Shakespeare play that is truly unique to the group, their talents and influences.”