claytoncast

I can just about remember the first morning of my professional theatre career. Walking into a busy rehearsal room in Warwick Avenue; a room already a buzz with the sound of greetings and cries of “Hail Fellow well met” in Shakespearean tones. It was daunting and exciting beyond belief. Throughout that first rehearsal period, I remember the moments of learning. Watching experienced older actors for whom this was now just a job, executing it with deft touches I had never even imagined during my three years of hardened training. The little tips I learned by watching them, and the advice I gained from them over post rehearsal glasses of wine and long coach journeys between venues on a European tour have long stayed with me. It was a wonderful way to learn. I never imagined that I would be in a position whereby my knowledge of the profession would be of worth, but during my tenure as chairman of the Actors Centre, I was lucky enough to be involved with the Alan Bates award. For some five or